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Philadelphia Freedom: The Liberty Bell Center

by Mary Jo Manzanares on March 28th, 2007

I’m a big history buff, and have previously written about my fascination with the charter documents in the founding of our country.  When making a list of the things that I wanted to do in Philadelphia, seeing the Liberty Bell was top on my list.

I’m not entirely sure what I expected.  I was certainly romanced by the concept of the bell ““ its historical significance and message of freedom ““ and it remains one of the most identifying symbols of the American Revolution.  It has been an enduring symbol of independence, freedom, and liberty. 

Originally, a bell was cast in London that was to be used at the Pennsylvania State House.  The bell cracked soon after its arrival in Philadelphia, so local craftsmen cast a new one in 1753, weighing a little over a ton, and made predominantly of copper.

The bell rang many times as the official bell of the Pennsylvania State House, mostly for public announcements.  Some notable bell ringings include the 1774 opening of the First Continental Congress, and after the 1775 Battle to Lexington and Concord.  The most famous ringing of the bell occurred on July 8th, 1776, when it called citizens together for the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

A thin crack developed in this bell, and it repairs were required.  On February 22, 1846, the bell rang for a George Washington birthday celebration.  The bell cracked again, this time growing from the top of the previously repaired crack and running to the crown of the bell.  This crack made the bell unusable, and it has not been rung since.

During the late 1800’s, the bell traveled the country, making appearances and fairs, expositions, and local events, in its efforts to heal the country post-Civil War.  In 1915 the bell at last returned home to Philadelphia, where it now rests silently, reminding us of the power and importance of our freedoms, and of the intangible concept of liberty.

Originally the bell was housed in the bell tower at Independence Hall.  In preparation for the American bicentennial celebration, a small glass pavilion was built to showcase the bell.  This facility proved unsatisfactory, and eventually a larger pavilion was created and named the Liberty Bell Center.  When the pavilion was dedicated in 2003, Queen Elizabeth presented a gift of a replica “Bicentennial Bell” that had been cast from the same British foundry as the original one.  That 1976 bell now hangs in Independence Hall.

I went to see the bell on a sunny, but cold, Saturday afternoon.  The line wrapped around the entrance, and down the block.  (It seemed to consist mostly of students on a group trip.)  The line stalled at the security checkpoint, where visitors are required to pass through a metal detector.  This process requires that all coats and jackets be removed, and EVERYTHING removed from pockets, resulting in people having to make numerous attempts to pass through the security screen.

Once through security, you proceed to a lobby area that features a video presentation, exhibits about the creation and history of the bell, along with additional bell artifacts.  After passing through these exhibits, you come to the glass chamber that houses the Liberty Bell, displayed at ground level, and you can look through the windows to see Independence Hall in the background.

The Liberty Bell Center is located on Market, between 5th & 6th.  It is open daily 9 am ““ 5 pm, with extended summer hours.  There is no admission fee.  Not counting the time spent waiting in line, the Liberty Bell Center can be seen in about an hour.  It’s a great family outing, and a chance for the kids to see history, not just read about it.

I did lots of things while in Philadelphia, but from a personal standpoint, seeing the Liberty Bell, a slice of American history, was probably the most important.

Photo credit:  Jon Rochetti

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POSTED IN: Museums, Things to See & Do