The Liberty Bell

Today’s Topic on History.

History of the Liberty Bell

In 1776, a 2000 pound copper and tin bell known as the Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of Independence Hall Summoning citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The name ” Liberty Bell” was first coined in an 1839 poem in an abolitionist pamphlet and the greatest pleasure, on behalf of the British people, to present a new bell to the people of the United States of America.

It comes from the same foundry as the Liberty Bell, but written on the side of this Bicentennial Bell are the words “Let Freedom Ring”.

But before The Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly ordered a bell to be constructed in 1751 to commemorate the fifty year anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Original Constitution. After being cracked during a test, and then recast twice the bell was hung from the Sate House steeple in June 1753.

The Bell’s clapper broke on its first use and was repaired by local artisans John Pass and John Stow. Their names are engraved into the Bell.

The Liberty Bell weighs 2,080 pounds and yoke weighs about 100 pounds.

it’s visible through a window into the Liberty Bell Center at 6th and Market streets. And visitors don’t need to wait in line to catch a glimpse of the bell, the crack however, can only be seen from inside the building. The Liberty Bell Center is open 364 days a year every day except Christmas, no tickets are required to visit the Liberty Bell and admission is free and granted on a first served basis you want to book tickets click >> book.peek and also click here to buy tickets to the Tour of Philadelphia with advance reservations.

If you planning to go there please see the actual crack that silenced the Liberty Bell you have to look very closely. Follow the big man made gap up to its end point, right between the P and H in Philad. From there, if you are really standing close to the Liberty Bell, you will be able to see a very small hairline fracture that extends diagonally to the right, all the way up to the top of the Liberty Bell where it happens to intersect directly through the word “Liberty”.

It was rung to call the Pennsylvania Assembly together and to summon people for special announcements and events. Interesting facts about the Bell has had three homes Independence Hall (the Pennsylvania State House) from 1753 to 1976, the Liberty Bell Pavilion from 1976 to 2003, and the Liberty Bell Center from 2003 to the present.

The Liberty Bell is inscribed with a Bible verse from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land Unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
Taking a cue from these words, abolitionists used the icon as a symbol of their movement in the 1830s.

The question of when the Liberty Bell acquired its famous fracture has been the subject of a good deal of historical debate. The Bell hasn’t been rung since George Washington’s birthday celebration in February 1846. Its fatal crack appeared the same year and the crack expanded to its present size while in use to mark Washington’s Birthday. After that date it was regarded as unsuitable for ringing but it was still ceremoniously tapped on occasion to commemorate important events.

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