Bok Tower Sanctuary Trip

While Dan took a ride in a motor glider at Wallaby Ranch, Darlene, Elly and I went to visit two historic "old Florida" landmarks on Sunday March 2. The first stop was the Historic Bok Sanctuary-Gardens-Bellower-Estate . I have wanted to go there for a long time, and it was worth the trip. The tower was dedicated in 1929, and was a gift from Edward Bok, an immigrant from the Netherlands. His Grandmother inspired him with the words: "Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it." Mr. Bok certainly tried to abide by his Grandmother's philosophy; the Tower and surrounding gardens are beautiful. The "singing Tower" has a 60 Bell Carillon, on which music is performed daily. We were lucky enough to get there for one of the 1/2 hour concerts. The smallest bell is 16 pounds. The largest bell weighs in at over 11 Tons !! It was very moving to wander around the gardens, and listen to the music play.

The Tower's structure is a steel frame with brick walls; the outer facing is pink and gray Georgia marble and Florida coquina, a limestone of shell and coral fragments. It sits 205 feet high, located on the highest point of peninsular Florida, 298 feet a.s.l. The geological history of the Florida ridge is worth reading about. It is a unique habitat, that is in danger of being lost (due to man's encroachment, changing the ecosystem). The sanctuary is a small preserve of the original savannah highland. There are several ponds, including a reflection pond near the Tower.