Cathedral of the Pines Women's Memorial Belltower
*No Night Caching. Grounds are open from Dawn to Dusk Only
This Virtual Cache will bring you to a beautiful and serene location, Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, NH. Of the many interesting spots at the Cathedral, the Women's Memorial Belltower is one of the most notable.
Visitors to the Cathedral are greeted by a 55 foot tall stone bell tower that is dedicated to American women – both civilian and military. Officially dedicated in 1967, The Women’s Memorial Bell Tower is believed to be the first monument in the United States devoted to women’s service and sacrifice.
At the center of the tower, a granite fountain commemorates the lives of American nurses lost in war. The “Tree of Life” sculpture, designed by Douglas Sloane III, signifies strength of character, stamina, determination, and courage. Twelve kinds of fruit grow from the limbs of the tree: breadfruit, pear, fig, peach, olive, orange, avocado, apple, lemon, cherry, pomegranate, and plum.
Large bronze plaques, designed by Norman Rockwell and created by his son Peter, decorate the tower’s four archways. One plaque portrays an early pioneer woman, child at her side and rifle at the ready, in remembrance of those who defended their homes and families. Another represents the women of the armed forces–the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. A third depicts American Red Cross founder Clara Barton assisting a wounded soldier in tribute to all nurses who serve our combat forces. The remaining plaque honors women who gave their lives to the war effort in many capacities: the Sisters of Charity, who tended wounded and dying soldiers; women who served in the Salvation Army or YWCA; USO entertainers and war correspondents; those who tended farms and shops; and women who worked in wartime factories, universally known as “Rosie the Riveter.”
The bells in the tower include English and Flemish carillons. There are also two Sheffield steel bells; one is an “Angelus,” and the other is a larger, 1800 pound bell cast by the Naylor Vickers Company of Sheffield in 1866.
Please message me with answers to the following questions:
1. Of the 4 bronze plaques encircling the tower, how many adult women are depicted?
2. On one of the plaques inside of the tower notes that the Fountain and Tree of Life are a memorial for whom and what did they make?
After completing this Virtual, I hope you take a stroll around the lovely grounds and enjoy the peaceful property.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.