History of the Kimball Opus 7133

Here, you will find detailed information about the history of the Kimball Opus 7133 Pipe Organ, sound files, images, event and concert schedule, project status, timeline, and a link to make donations to support the restoration project.
We are passionate about preserving this iconic musical instrument and bringing its glorious sound back to life. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that this historical organ continues to inspire and enrich our community.

The Kimball organ company and the Opus 7133

The Kimball Organ Company was one of the preeminent American organ builders in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. Their instruments occupied many great spaces across the country and beyond, including the Mormon Tabernacle and the Minneapolis Civic Auditorium. Today, the few remaining well maintained, un-altered Kimballs are considered treasures. St. Thomas is fortunate to be part of small group of churches with such an instrument.

Kimball Opus 7133 was commissioned by Senator Lawrence Phipps and installed in his mansion in Denver in 1933. The Senator later commissioned a similar instrument for the Episcopal Cathedral in Denver. After the Phipps died, our organ was moved to the Phipps Auditorium in the Denver Museum of Natural History in 1969 where it was played in many concerts and performances. When the Phipps Auditorium was converted into an Imax theatre, the organ was moved to the Akin Auditorium at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1983 where it was played regularly until the closure of that organ program in 2012. It has been in storage ever since

Kimball organ company facts:

According to the Organ Historic Society database (the most accurate keeper of such records)

They original built or significantly renovated some 7000 instruments, here and in other countries. Their installations include iconic instruments in the Mormon Salt Lake Tabernacle, and city halls across the US and as far afield as South Africa

Of the 7000 Kimballs originally built, 312 are extant

There are 7 playable Kimballs in TX, the closest one being in Austin (the others are in Tyler, Dallas, Mineral Wells, Paris, Fort Worth and Amarillo)

It is difficult to know how many of the 312 are tonally unaltered