Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Liberty Bell is such a perfect allegory for the United States. Created by the British from an imperfect alloy of unknown metals, the large bell showed cracks from the beginning, but it serves as a beacon of freedom that has been copied and shared around the world.
The bell was cast in London and sent to Philadelphia in 1752. The 2,000-pound bell was surprisingly fragile, cracking when it was first rung. The bell was recast a couple of times and eventually used for its intended purpose.
The bell has had a fascinating history, first used to mark celebrations and historical events before it went into hiding. There is no record of the Liberty Bell being rung with the passage of the Declaration of Independence. Still, other bells were definitely rung when the Declaration was first read to Philadelphians. Before the British captured Philadelphia in 1777, the bell was sent to Allentown, where it was hidden beneath the floorboards of a church. The citizens of Philadelphia were worried that the bell would be melted down into ammunition. When Philadelphia was liberated, the bell returned to the State House, where it occasionally rang. Eventually, the City of Philadelphia purchased the Liberty Bell, the State House, and the surrounding land. Later, after World War II, these buildings and the bell were transferred to the National Park Service.
No one really knows when the Liberty Bell was damaged beyond repair, but it was sometime between 1817 and 1846. Although forever silenced, the Liberty Bell became a symbol for abolitionists thanks to its inscription, “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof.” The bell traveled to many locations over the years, but with additional cracks and people shaving off pieces as souvenirs, it found its permanent home in Philadelphia.
Today, the bell endures in its own structure within view of Independence Hall. To enter the structure with the bell, everyone must go through screening. The museum includes many items related to the bell, including accounts of visits from people and the cultural impact the bell has had on the United States and beyond. Any trip to Philadelphia is worth a few minutes to see this lasting symbol of our national heritage.
