Ann Morrison Park Clock Tower, Boise
Boise, Ada County
- Grants: 2023 – Restoration of Clock Tower
Location: Ann Morrison Park, 1000 S. Americana Blvd., Boise, ID 83706
Established in 1953 by Harry and Ann Daly Morrison, the Harry W. Morrison Foundation is a 501c3 exempt foundation seeking to improve the quality of life in Idaho by supporting organizations, programs, and projects that create positive, lasting change in the Treasure Valley and throughout rural Idaho.
To commemorate the passing of his beloved wife Ann, Harry Morrison built the park in her name and dedicated it to the citizens of Idaho in her honor. In 1959, the park was completed and open to the public. One of the most distinctive features of the sprawling 153-acre park is the 43-foot-tall clocktower. Four gently sloping support legs originally held seven-foot cube adorned with four modern timepieces constructed from anodized aluminum. The clock faces were constructed in New York based on plans designed locally, and the whole structure was furnished by Don F. Daly (Ann’s nephew).
Time and the elements have been unkind to this piece of Boise history. As early as 1961, persistent mechanical issues plagued the timepiece, leading to a long litany of repairs. Eventually, the clock stopped altogether, and the original piece was removed in favor of a digital clock in 1999. With help from IHT, the Morrison Foundation intends to painstakingly restore the original timepiece with an eye towards safeguarding against the perils of the previous design. In conjunction with the restoration, the group intends to move the clock to a new location to increase visibility and to accommodate for the way the park’s usage has changed over time.
