Campanile, Sylvan Theater [Theatre] named to historic register. (1987, June 2). The Brookings Daily Register, p. 3.

***Briggs Library call number: Microfilm 071 B792***
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South Dakota State University's Coughlin Campanile and Collidge [Coolidge] Sylvan Theatre have been named to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service of the United States Department of Interior.

The National Register of Historic Places was created by the U.S. government to recognize properties that contributed to the prehistoric and historic development of our cities, states and nation. Sites listed in the register are to be preserved for future generations.

The Coughlin Campanile and its chimes were given to SDSU in 1929 by Charles L. Coughlin, a 1909 electrical engineering graduate, on the 20th anniversary of his graduation. His $75,000 donation included the tower, a sidewalk around the structure, beacon lights and floodlights.

The 165-foot tower is made of white Indiana limestone, red brick and concrete to fit in with the nearby Coolidge Sylvan Theatre and Lincoln Music Hall.

Up to 1,200 visitors a day toured the campanile when it first opened. Today, the tower is locked. But visitors still are able to obtain a key from the SDSU Physical Plant to climb the 180 steps to the top of the tower where "Old Faithful," a bell cast for the college in 1885, was formerly located. The bell now is housed in the Aggie School Memorial Clock/Bell tower at the Tompkins Alumni Center.

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