The Mt. Angel Glockenspiel

Rising 49 feet at the corner of Charles and Garfield streets in the center of town, Mt. Angel’s Glockenspiel celebrates the Native-German-Swiss-Bavarian heritage of the village and our world-famous Oktoberfest held each fall.

Wherever Glockenspiels are located they become tourist destinations and this one is no exception. Crowds gather at the appointed hour to watch the figures as they dance about and to listen to the resonance of the bells. The performances (and the crowd) have often stopped trafic for a short spell. (Performances occur daily at: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

What’s unique about the Mt. Angel Glockenspiel is that it chronicles the history of the Willamette Valley and of Mt. Angel specifically. It’s series of figures each symbolically or factually represent a part of this unique history:

Kalapuya Brave

Native Americans traveling through the valley climbed the butte east of Mt. Angel to pray to the Great Spirit. They called the spot “Tapalamaho,” the “Mount of Communion” or the “dwelling-place of the holy spirit.” Thus the first figure is a noble Kalapuya brave at prayer.

Mathias Butsch

The “Father of Mt. Angel,” Mathias Butsch arrived in 1878. One of the early leaders of the community, he was instrumental in building the first church, railroad station, and general store. Most important, he brought the Benedictine Monks to Mt. Angel.

Sister Bernadine Wachter

Sister Bernadine arrived in 1882 from th convent of Maria Rickenback in Switzerland. She was the first Prioress of the Benedictine Convent and the new school. The sisters’ beautiful grounds are located in the shadow of Prayer Mountain.

Robert and Katrina Zollner

The first German Catholic settlers came to the valley in 1867. Mr. Zollner obtained a homestead of 220 acres along Zollner Creek and encouraged other families to come to the area.

Prior Adelhelm Odermatt

Prior Adelhelm Odermatt came from Switzerland and established the Benedictine Monastery in 1882. It was he who suggested “Mount Angel” for the small community, the anglicized version of Engelberg, his Swiss home. It is fitting that he chose the top of Prayer Mountain to build Mount Angel Abbey. “Tapalamaho” remains a place for communion with the Holy Spirit.

Papa Oom Pah

The town flourished over the years and in 1966 the first Oktoberfest was celebrated. Papa Oom Pah, the official Oktoberfest mascot, is a jolly Bavarian with rosy cheeks, a flowing moustache, lederhosen, and a huge tuba. He represents all the fun and excitement of the Northwest’s best-loved folk festival and the town’s Bavarian heritage.

Bavarian Children

The grand finale happens on the third floor. When the shutters open we look to the future. A boy and girl dressed in Bavarian garb, playing on a garden swing, sing Edelweiss.