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Soldiers' Tower: A Gothic Revival Memorial

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A poignant Gothic Revival tower at the University of Toronto, commemorating those who served in the World Wars. A lasting tribute to their sacrifice.

The Soldiers' Tower at the University of Toronto is a poignant Gothic Revival memorial commemorating university members who served in the World Wars. Standing 143 feet tall, it features a carillon of 51 bells and a memorial room with artifacts.

A brief summary to Soldiers' Tower

Eve
From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Soldiers' Tower.

  • Visit early in the morning for a quieter atmosphere and better photo opportunities.
  • Take time to read the plaques around the tower for a deeper understanding of its history.
  • Combine your visit with a stroll around Hart House for a full experience of the university's heritage.

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Getting There

  • Walking

    If you are in the downtown area, walking to Soldiers' Tower is a pleasant option. Start from Queen's Park and head south on University Avenue. Continue straight until you reach the intersection with St. George Street. Turn left onto St. George Street and walk until you reach Hart House Circle. Soldiers' Tower will be on your right. This walk takes approximately 20 minutes.

  • Public Transport

    To reach Soldiers' Tower using public transport, you can take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway. Take Line 1 (Yonge-University) and disembark at St. George Station. From there, exit the station and walk south on St. George Street toward Hart House Circle for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the 505 Dundas streetcar from Dundas Station and disembark at the Hart House stop, which is just a short walk from Soldiers' Tower. A single fare on the TTC is approximately CAD 3.35 if paying cash. If you use a Presto card, the fare is CAD 3.30. A Presto card itself costs CAD 6.00.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Toronto. A short taxi ride from downtown to the Soldiers' Tower will likely cost between CAD 8-10. Keep in mind that fares are determined by a base rate of CAD 3.25, a price per kilometer of CAD 1.75, and an hourly waiting rate of CAD 31.00. There may also be a surcharge of CAD 2.00 for each passenger over 4 people or for excess luggage.

  • Car

    If you're driving, head towards the University of Toronto campus located in Old Toronto. You can use GPS coordinates 43.6635286, -79.3952373 to navigate directly to Soldiers' Tower. As you approach the campus, look for Hart House Circle, which is the street where Soldiers' Tower is located. There is limited street parking around the university, so be prepared to find a parking spot in nearby streets or parking garages, which may incur costs of around CAD 10-20 for a few hours. Some parking garages near the University of Toronto include the SouthCore Financial Centre Garage, which costs CAD 15.86 for a few hours.

Discover more about Soldiers' Tower

The Soldiers' Tower, a striking bell and clock tower on the University of Toronto's St. George campus, serves as a lasting tribute to the university's members who served in the World Wars. Designed in the Late Gothic Revival style by architects Henry Sproatt and Ernest Ross Rolph, construction on the tower began in 1919 and was completed in 1924. The tower stands 43.5 meters (143 feet) tall and houses a carillon of 51 bells.The tower commemorates the 628 members of the University of Toronto who gave their lives during active service in the First World War, as well as the 557 men and women lost in the Second World War. The names of those who died in the Great War (1914–1918) are etched on a sheltered stone screen adjacent to the tower's base, while the inner walls of the tower's stone archway are inscribed with the names of those lost in the Second World War (1939–45).Inside the tower, visitors can explore the Memorial Room, which showcases a collection of medals, memorial books, portraits, photographs, flags, and miscellaneous memorabilia from the war periods. A dramatic 12-panel stained-glass window offers a visual interpretation of John McCrae's iconic poem "In Flanders Fields". Eight additional stained-glass windows along the staircase honor different aspects of Canadian forces' wartime services. The carillon, installed in 1927, consists of 51 bells ranging in weight from 23 pounds to 4 tons. The bells are played on special occasions like convocation, reunions, homecoming, and Remembrance Day.

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