'Heart of Iowa State': Iconic Campanile is turning 125. Look back at key moments.

As Iowa State University gears up to celebrate the 125th anniversary of its iconic campanile on Sunday, people are reflecting on their memories of the tower and its carillon bells.

“To many of us, the campanile is really the heart of Iowa State, not just based on where it’s located but for how it makes us feel,” Mike Golemo, Iowa State director of bands, said of the central campus landmark.

A free public event will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, just north of the campanile, featuring stories about its inspiration and legacy, remarks from Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen and several musical performances. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets, as seating will be limited. Following the program, a reception will be held in the Memorial Union Campanile Room.

Iowa State's Campanile a sound of hope for a captive hostage

The bells of Iowa State were a sound of hope for alumnus Thomas Sutherland as he was held hostage by the Islamic Jihad in Lebanon for more than six years.

He heard a special broadcast of the bells on “Voice of America,” a global radio entity, during his captivity, which was from 1985 to 1991.

During his first news conference after his release, Sutherland mentioned how meaningful it was to him to hear the ringing of the bells over the airwaves. The comments were picked up by the New York Times and other national publications.

"I was very, very moved when I heard on 'Voice of America' a recording of the bells of Iowa State, which I particularly appreciated hearing when I was a student there on campus," Sutherland said, according to the Iowa State news service. "So when I heard them ring out 72 bells on the occasion of my 72nd month (in captivity), I was extremely happy. So to Iowa State, I would say, 'Keep the bells ringing.'"

During Sutherland’s captivity, the campanile’s bells rang on nearly every anniversary of his kidnapping.

Iowa State carillon’s rendition of Lady Gaga's ‘Bad Romance’ performance goes viral

On a lighter note, in August 2010, carillonneur Tin-Shi Tam performed Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” on the carillon in a concert that went viral and has been viewed on YouTube more than 800,000 times.

The performance was in response to a Facebook campaign started by senior journalism student Brad Riley, who encouraged people to email Tam requests for the song, according to the Iowa State Daily.

Sunday celebration to feature a joint concert of Iowa State carillon and university bands

Tam has been the carillonneur for 30 years, playing 20-minute concerts at midday on weekdays when school is in session.

For Sunday’s celebration, Tam will team up with the ISU Brass Ensemble and the Iowa State Singers, closing with the alma mater “Bells of Iowa State.”

Golemo said in a news release that it’s just the third time in his 25 years at Iowa State that the university bands are performing with the carillon. It’s challenging regarding pitch and rhythm as well as logistics, since the band and Tam can’t see each other.

“We don’t do it too often, but every time we have it’s been exciting, fun and rewarding,” he said.

Iowa State Campanile has inspired many homages, traditions across Ames

The campanile’s structure and legends have inspired many tributes, from sweet to soaring.

The ISU Creamery has created an ice cream flavor inspired by “campaniling,” the term for kissing at midnight under the structure. Campanile Kiss is an egg-free recipe featuring strawberry-flavored ice cream with strawberry swirls. The creamery’s store is in the Food Services Building, 536 Farm House Lane.

Every November and December, Reiman Gardens’ RG Express, a garden-sized holiday train, runs through an indoor landscape featuring iconic Ames architecture. Like the rest of the buildings in the display, the Campanile replica is made with natural materials such as tree bark, mushroom caps and berries.

Reiman Gardens’ 17 acres also has a permanent feature called the Margaret E. Penkhus Campanile Garden. Although not a detailed facsimile of the campanile on campus, Reiman’s metal structure gives definite campanile vibes. The model campanile is visible to motorists on University Boulevard and in the spring is a backdrop to about 50,000 tulips and other blooming bulbs. The “Campanile in the Gardens” regularly plays tunes related to the gardens’ theme or to the season of the year.

Unveiled in 2019, Iowa State students built a Campanile-Carillon Model, which is a one-fifth scale model of the tower and includes a 27-bell carillon. Tam described the project as a “true labor of love.” It’s a mobile structure that can be moved to special events, but it’s commonly housed in the Sukup Atrium of the Biorenewables Complex. Sunday’s celebration will be held in the atrium in the event of inclement weather.

The campanile is the subject of countless photos and paintings. One recent example is the iconic structure’s depiction in a giant mural on the west interior wall of the new Mullets restaurant in Ames. It appears along with images such as the Farm House, the first building on campus and current-day museum, and The Dinkey, a small train that connected the college campus to downtown Ames from 1892 to 1929.

Reporter Ronna Faaborg can be reached at rfaaborg@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: 'Heart of Iowa State': Campanile turns 125. Look back at key moments.