The Samford Hall bell tower is familiar from the outside, but have you ever wondered what it looks like inside?
These interior photos offer a different perspective on one of Auburn University’s recognizable landmarks. My video adds another part of the experience: the sound of the tower’s chimes.
For anyone who attended Auburn, worked on campus or spent time downtown, that sound may bring back a particular memory.
For someone considering a move to Auburn, it provides a glimpse of the university setting that shapes so much of the surrounding community.
Table of Contents
- A different view of Samford Hall
- How the building’s history began
- The bell, clock and modern chimes
- A short historical timeline
- Listening to Auburn
- Exploring the surrounding area
- What relocation buyers should consider
- Quick Q&A
- Buying or selling in Auburn and Opelika
Inside the Samford Hall Bell Tower
Most photographs of Samford Hall show the building from the lawn or surrounding campus.
The interior views tell a different story.
Instead of seeing only the clock tower above the roofline, you can look at details within the tower itself. They invite a closer look at a structure that many people recognize without knowing much about its history.
The photographs and chiming video also complement each other. One shows the interior. The other captures a sound associated with the building.
Have you seen this part of Samford Hall before?
From Old Main to Samford Hall
The present building followed an earlier campus building known as Old Main, which burned in 1887.
Auburn University Facilities Management dates construction of its successor to 1888–1890. The building later became known as Samford Hall.
That distinction matters: the current Samford Hall is not the original 1859 Old Main building.
Auburn’s Facilities Management building profile (https://auburn.edu/administration/facilities/webapps/buildings/profile.php?bldg=aa_x0304) provides the university’s construction history and identifies its present use as university administration.
The landmark stands at 182 South College Street, close to the meeting point of campus and downtown Auburn.
The Bell, Clock and Chimes
The tower’s history includes changes to its timekeeping and sound systems.
Auburn-Opelika Tourism dates the addition of the bell and clock system to 1889. Its history also describes later modernization, including an electronic carillon in the 1990s.
A carillon refers to a bell-based musical instrument or system. In this case, the modern electronic system is an important distinction from the historic physical bell.
Hearing chimes from the tower does not necessarily mean the original bell is being struck.
That makes the interior photographs especially interesting. They show a physical part of the tower’s story, while the video captures its audible presence around campus.
You can read more in Auburn-Opelika Tourism’s Samford Hall history (https://www.aotourism.com/blog/post/a-brief-history-of-samford-hall/).
A Short Samford Hall Timeline
| Date | Part of the story |
|---|---|
| 1887 | Old Main burned |
| 1888–1890 | Construction period listed by Auburn Facilities Management for the successor building |
| 1889 | Bell and clock system added, according to Auburn-Opelika Tourism |
| 1929 | The building was officially named Samford Hall |
| 1971 | The building underwent renovation |
| 1995 | Auburn’s historical collection records replacement of the original clock |
The dates describe different milestones. A construction date, naming date and clock replacement date refer to different events.
Auburn’s historical collection entry for William J. Samford Hall (https://omeka.lib.auburn.edu/items/show/5) provides additional background on the naming and later changes.
Who Was Samford Hall Named For?
The building honors William James Samford, Alabama’s 31st governor.
According to Auburn’s historical collection, the Board of Trustees officially named the building in his honor in 1929.
The building also served different functions over time, including classrooms, administrative offices and the college library.
Knowing that history adds context to the familiar exterior. The tower is part of a building that has supported several chapters of university life.
What Do the Chimes Play?
Auburn’s published visitor information describes quarter-hour chimes and the university fight song at noon.
Those details help explain why the sound is familiar to people who have spent time near campus.
However, this particular video should be enjoyed for what it captures. Without identifying the recording time and melody, I would not label it as the noon fight song.
Turn up the sound and listen. Does it remind you of walking to class, visiting campus or spending an afternoon in downtown Auburn?
Auburn Has Familiar Sounds as Well as Familiar Views
A photograph can show a building’s shape and color. Video can preserve the experience of hearing it.
That is part of what I enjoy about sharing local footage.
The bell tower offers a different Auburn moment from a football crowd or a busy downtown celebration. It draws attention to a detail people may pass regularly without stopping to consider.
Some viewers will recognize the sound immediately. Others may be hearing it for the first time.
What Auburn sound would you recognize without seeing the location?
Exploring Around Samford Hall
Samford Hall is part of Auburn University (https://www.auburn.edu/), and its location makes it a useful reference point when exploring campus and downtown.
If you are visiting to research a move, take time to understand your actual destinations.
A property advertised as convenient to campus may work differently depending on where you need to go, how you travel and where you park.
The same applies to attending events at Jordan-Hare Stadium (https://auburntigers.com/jordan-hare-stadium). Campus proximity is a starting point, not a complete description of everyday convenience.
A Relocation Example
Consider a hypothetical buyer who begins a visit with a walk around Samford Hall and downtown.
The buyer enjoys the setting and initially focuses on nearby properties. After testing the route to work and comparing parking and maintenance needs, the search becomes more specific.
One buyer may remain focused on a campus-area condominium. Another may prefer a home farther away with different space or surroundings.
The landmark helps introduce the community. The property decision should also reflect ordinary daily life.
Five Things to Compare During Your Visit
- Drive to your actual workplace or campus destination.
- Check parking and walking connections.
- Visit preferred areas at different times when possible.
- Compare the home’s condition and maintenance needs.
- Include regular errands in your location research.
For example, test shopping routes to destinations such as Opelika Tiger Town (https://www.opelika-al.gov/397/Tiger-Town). Buyers researching schools should confirm current information directly with Auburn City Schools (https://www.auburnschools.org/).
You can also explore Auburn subdivisions (https://auburnopelikaalrealestate.com/auburn-al-subdivisons/) as you compare locations.
Quick Q&A
Is it Samford Hall or Sanford Hall?
The Auburn University building is Samford Hall.
Does Samford Hall have a bell tower?
Yes. Its clock tower includes a historic bell, and its sound systems have changed over time.
Is the present building the original Old Main?
No. Old Main burned in 1887, and the present building succeeded it.
Who was the building named after?
William James Samford, Alabama’s 31st governor.
Does the original bell produce every sound heard today?
Do not assume so. The tower’s history includes a later electronic carillon.
Does this post advertise public access inside the tower?
No. These photographs share an interior view. They do not establish current visitor access or tour availability.
Can Laura help me compare homes near Auburn University?
Yes. Share your budget, timing and priorities so we can discuss current property options and locations.
Related Auburn–Opelika Topics
- Living near Auburn University
- Moving to Auburn
- Exploring downtown Auburn
- Planning your first relocation visit
- Comparing Auburn and Opelika homes
Find Your Place in Auburn or Opelika
Laura Sellers is an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and has been a REALTOR® for over 20 years. She is an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate — the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.
If you are considering buying or selling, tell me your timing and priorities. We can discuss the property features and locations that fit your plans.
Available homes and market conditions can change, so we will review current information as you prepare.
Call or text Laura Sellers at 334-332-7263.
Visit AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com.
Have you heard these chimes in person?
Homes, y’all!
