An iconic structure in downtown Jefferson is officially open for regular hours on the weekends.

Bell Tower Community Foundation Tour Guide Coordinator Molly Cunningham says the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower is open from 10am-4pm Saturdays and Sundays in May, before being open everyday starting on Memorial Day.

Tour Guide Pat Richards says last year, over 4,000 people visited the tower. She notes that of those 4,000 people, 48 of the 50 states were represented, along with six of seven continents and 20 countries. She talks about the Bell Tower Tour Guide staff and that each person has been certified through a program with Iowa State University.

“We’re not a museum, it’s not a memorized script by any means. It’s a friendly conversation with people. That is really one of the main ingredients in being a tour guide. You’re friendly, you like people, you’re interested in their stories as well as they being interested in what we have to say.”

Cunningham points out that individuals who are 18 and younger are admitted for free this year, compliments of the local chiropractors. She says daily adult admissions are $5 or a season pass is $25.