The Beautiful Clock Tower In Downtown Rome, Georgia

Rome, Georgia, has a deep-rooted heritage. It is proud of its small-town quaintness, beautiful Berry College, the three rivers that run through it, and Broad Street’s shops and restaurants. It is also home to one of the most well-known places, the Beautiful Clock Tower In Downtown Rome, Georgia.

The Clock Tower is in the Heart of Rome, standing tall above Broad Street and downtown. It is a place for photos, exercise, picnics, and enjoying the outdoors.

You can find Rome’s Clock Tower on top of Neely Hill: one of The Seven Hills In Rome, Georgia. The Clock Tower is the most well-known landmark in Rome and is a must when visiting Rome. Almost anywhere in the downtown area, you can see the Clock Tower peeking over the trees and hear the clock’s chimes on the hours.

The Clock Tower was built in 1871 to serve as a water tower for the city of Rome, to increase water pressure for the rapidly growing city. In 1872, a bell and four clock faces were added to the tower.

Tours of the Clock Tower are held on the first Saturday of the month during the warmer months, starting in May and going thru September. Tours of the Clock Tower are organized through the Rome Area History Center, or you can book a group tour by calling 706-295-5576.

There are 109 steps leading to the top of the Clock Tower, and the views of the Downtown Rome area are spectacular. Inside, a museum has paintings from Rome’s history and the restored original clockworks.

From 1883 until 1961, Neely Hill was the site of Neely School. The school was the first public school building in Rome, named after Benjamin Neely, the first superintendent of the Rome public schools in 1882.

As you walk around the tower, there are beautifully landscaped gardens, benches, and paved paths.

The benches offer a perfect spot for a quick picnic lunch if you work in the area.

The Clock Tower is surrounded by beautiful homes that are part of the Historic Between the Rivers community. Sidewalks run on two sides of the Clock Tower grounds that people put to good use for exercise. Walking up the sidewalks is challenging, and the visit gives you quite the workout. The area surrounding the Clock Tower is less steep. As you stand on top of Neely Hill and look out, you can take in a beautiful view of the surrounding areas in Rome.

There are some spaces for parking at the base of Clock Tower. The driveway to the parking has a narrow entrance, and I missed it the first time I drove by. The parking lot is awkward to pull into and out of. I do not recommend this parking lot if you have a large vehicle or don’t like tight spaces.

During the summer of 2018, refurbishments were made to the Clock Tower. This periodic maintenance performed on the Clock Tower ensures it will be preserved for future generations.

The Clock Tower after the 2018 refurbishment.

The Clock Tower is located at 410 E 2nd St., Rome, Ga 30161

If you want to read more about the history of Rome’s Clock Tower, visit Georgia’s Rome Office Of Tourism.