William Culbertson Centennial Clock Keep  at Tampa Union Station

cast concrete and brick- 27' high

location: Tampa Union Station              
               601 N. Nebraska Avenue

Project Description:

This project successfully addresses the compatibility of historic architecture and contemporary Public Art. Built in 1912, Tampa Union Station is a landmark structure, and on the National Register of Historic Places. The station is in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style, and served as Tampa’s primary cultural and economic gateway for many years. In the 1970s and 80s, the building fell into disrepair. In 1998 Tampa Union Station was restored to its original glory. The 5, 236 sq. ft., two-story red brick building is embellished with cast stone columns and a two-story opalescent glass window and terra cotta cornice. It currently houses the City of Tampa’s neighborhood office, in addition to serving as a functioning station.

Artist Concept

The railroad was critical to the emergence and existence of Tampa. Centennial Clock Keep presents a visual, and interpretive history of the many needs the railroad served from railroad barons and tourist luxury cars, to the freight cars that carried Florida citrus to the north. These elements wrap the column to the top where the clocks are housed in the “Watchman’s Tower.” This tower was a small; elevated building that was located very close to the actual site of the clock tower. A single operator who was responsible for lowering and lifting the crossing gate as trains arrived and departed occupied it. “My work explores the relationship of man’s cultural and historical development to time. The Clock Tower is intended to visually explore the relationship of the site as a public facility to that of the community who will interact with it daily. This sculptural piece visually depicts the historical and cultural development of the site, the community, and the region. The clock tower design is sensitive to the facility’s architectural design, materials, coloration, and the surrounding environment.”- William Culbertson.

Download an educational sheet on the clock tower.