Nancy Brown Peace Carillon, Detroit

The Nancy Brown Peace Carillon, located on Detroit's Belle Isle, is a neo-Gothic bell tower monument to peace and community effort. Designed by the architectural firm Harley, Ellington, and Day, the tower is octagonal and rises to 98 feet (30 meters). Its construction was inspired by Nancy Brown, the pseudonym of The Detroit News columnist Annie Louise Brown, who initiated a campaign in 1936 to build the carillon after hosting a successful religious "Sunrise Service" on Belle Isle in 1934, which drew approximately 50,000 attendees.

Entirely funded by donations from Brown’s readers and supporters, the carillon was built at no expense to the city. Groundbreaking occurred on October 30, 1939, and the cornerstone was laid on December 13. The tower was dedicated on June 16, 1940, during the seventh annual Sunrise Service, again attracting a crowd of around 50,000 people. The first concert was held on Independence Day, July 4, 1940, featuring American patriotic songs.

Although originally intended to feature real bells, the carillon was equipped with an electronic organ and amplifier due to cost constraints. Despite its innovative design, the structure faced challenges over the decades. By 1970, it had fallen silent due to damage from pigeons and vandalism, with stained glass windows also destroyed. Subsequent efforts to restore the carillon included replacing its organ and amplifier with an 8-track system in 1974 and later installing new chimes in 2003.

By 2012, the carillon had been automated and was playing music daily, though, by 2013, it was noted to be in need of maintenance due to neglect and vandalism. The Nancy Brown Peace Carillon remains a symbol of resilience and community, hosting events such as the "67 Seconds of Peace" commemoration in 2017, which marked the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riot and featured poetry and historical presentations.