Big Bertha is the world's largest drum. It is used by The University of Texas' school band, known as the Longhorn Band. Big Bertha measures eight feet in diameter, 44 inches in depth, and stands 10 feet tall when on its four-wheeled cart. The giant drum weighs more than 500 pounds. It is wheeled onto the field for the half time show during football games, and is used in other occasisons such as parades and spirit rallies. The drum is managed by the "Bertha Crew", sometimes called "drum wranglers". They move the drum, but rarely, if ever, is the drum actually played. Big Bertha is also called the "Sweetheart of the Lognhorn Band" University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (full official name), often UT or Texas for short, is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System, the largest public university system in Texas, established in 1883. ... A college football game between Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy. ...

History

The drum was originally in residence at the University of Chicago. In 1922, the University commissioned the Conn Music Company to build a big bass drum for the school. Its first use was in the the 1922 game versus rival Princeton University. When the University of Chicago ended its varsity football program, the drum was stored under the school stadium and later became contaminated by the Manhattan Project conducted at the stadium during the 1940s. The University of Chicago is a private co-educational university located in Chicago, Illinois. ... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For other Princetons, see Princeton. ... ... Control panels and operators for calutrons at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Harold Boyd, a former Longhorn Band member, brought the world's biggest drum to Texas in 1955. He purchased the drum from the University of Chicago for USD 1.00. The drum had to be decontaminated before being used by UT. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

External Links

• The University of Texas Longhorn Band
• Big Bertha at UT band website
• Big Bertha at UT alumni organization website