Liberty Bell Facts

The Liberty Bell is one the monuments identified with the American Revolution. This bell is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The complete address is "Liberty Bell Center, Market Street & 6th, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". In 1752, the Liberty Bell was originally cast in Whitechapel Foundry. Since a crack had developed, it was recast in 1753 at Pass & Stow, Philadelphia.

In 1701,William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania issued the "Charter of Privileges". Historians believe, the bell was ordered to commemorate the freedom he had given to the natives of Pennsylvania.

The historical evidences reveal that the Liberty Bell was chimed on July 8, 1776. At that time, the bell hung from the tower of Independence Hall. It was rung to summon the citizens of Philadelphia to the public hearing of the "Declaration of Independence". Colonel John Nixon read the Declaration of Independence.

In 1837, the Liberty Bell was given an iconic status by the abolitionists of slavery, when they adopted the "bell" as the symbol of abolition of slavery in the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln who was the sixteenth president of the US abolished slavery at the end of the American Civil War.

Inscription on the Liberty Bell

The original inscription of the contract inscribed by Whitechapel was "By order of the Assembly of the povince of Pensylvania for the State house in the City of Philada 1752 Proclaim Liberty thro' all the Land to all the inhabitants thereof Levit. XXV.10 ."

After it was recast by Pass and Stow the inscription on the Liberty Bell read as

"Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof Lev. XXV.V X.
By order of the ASSEMBLY of the Province of PENSYLVANIA for the State House in Philada
Pass and Stow
Philada
MDCCLIII"

Note -

• In the original contract, the province is misspelled as "povince".
• The spelling of Pennsylvania was accepted as "Pensylvania" in 18th century.

Facts about Liberty Bell

For the first seventy-five years, the Liberty Bell was known as the "State House Bell". In 1846, the Liberty Bell was called as the "Independence Bell". From 1848 to 1877, it was known as the "Old Liberty Bell". From 1893 to the present day, it is simply known as the "Liberty Bell".

The original bell weighed over 2,000 pounds and the yoke of the Liberty Bell weighed around 100 pounds.

The height of the bell from the lip to crown measures 3 feet. The circumference of the bell around the lip measures about 12 feet; and the circumference around the crown is 6 feet and 11 inches.

Seventy percent copper and twenty-five percent tin along with metals such as zinc, arsenic, silver and gold were used to make the Liberty Bell. It is believed that the bell is hung from the yoke made of American elm.

In 1752, the cost of the original Liberty Bell was $225.50. This amount is equivalent to Sterling 150, 13 shillings and 8 pence.

The weight of the clapper is 44.5 pounds and the length is 3.2 feet. The yoke of the Liberty Bell weighs 200 pounds.

The Liberty Bell has a hairline fracture that measures approximately 2.4 inches.

The Liberty Bell still remains the symbol of freedom. In 1915, a replica of the Liberty Bell was used to promote suffrage of American women. The clapper of the bell was chained to its side. This bell was rung on September 25, 1920, in the Independence Hall. It was brought to Philadelphia, after touring the entire nation.

From 1753 to 1976, the Liberty Bell was housed in the Independence Hall. From 1976 to 2003, it was hung in the Liberty Bell Pavilion. On October 9, 2003, it was hung in the new Liberty Bell Center.

Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the Liberty Bell Center every year.