One of the most iconic and significant symbols of American independence and freedom, the Liberty Bell has a long and rich history that echoes the story of our nation. Commissioned in 1751 by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, this massive bell has stood witness to pivotal events, inspired social change, and captured the hearts and minds of Americans for nearly 270 years.
Origins and Early History
The Liberty Bell‘s story began when the Assembly decided to order a bell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of William Penn‘s 1701 Charter of Privileges, which granted religious liberties and political self-government to the colony. Cast in London‘s Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the bell arrived in Philadelphia in August 1752.
Weighing in at a massive 2,080 pounds (943 kg), the bell is composed of 70% copper, 25% tin, and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver. It measures 12 feet (3.7 m) in circumference around the lip and 7.5 feet (2.3 m) around the crown, with a 44-pound (20 kg) clapper inside.
Soon after being installed in the Philadelphia State House (now Independence Hall), the bell cracked on its first test strike. Local foundry workers John Pass and John Stow twice recast the bell, adding a timeless inscription from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
For nearly 90 years, the bell served as a clarion call of freedom. It rang to mark the opening of the First Continental Congress in 1774, and again after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 which launched the Revolutionary War. Most famously, on July 8, 1776, its reverberating tones summoned citizens for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Becoming an Icon of Abolition
In the 1830s, the bell took on new significance in the growing movement to abolish slavery. The Liberator, a prominent anti-slavery publication, reprinted the bell‘s inscription in 1837, forever linking the object to the abolitionist cause. As tensions rose leading up to the Civil War, the bell appeared on pamphlets, banners, and broadsides as a symbol promoting emancipation and equal rights.
Around this time, the bell gained the name that would resound through history. In 1839, Boston abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison first referred to it as the "Liberty Bell" in reference to its inscription. The name stuck, and the bell‘s reputation as an emblem of freedom continued to grow.
Sadly, sometime in the early 1840s, a thin crack developed in the bell which expanded to its current size, rendering the bell unringable. The last known ringing was on February 23, 1846 in celebration of George Washington‘s birthday. The current wide crack is actually the result of a repair effort in 1846, when workers attempted to drill out the thin crack to prevent it from spreading further.
Healing a Divided Nation
After the Civil War, the Liberty Bell embarked on a nationwide tour, visiting expositions and patriotic gatherings as a symbol to help reunite the country and heal divisions. Its journey included trips to New Orleans for the World Cotton Centennial Exposition in 1885, Chicago for the 1893 World‘s Columbian Exposition, Atlanta for the 1895 Cotton States Exposition, Charleston for the 1902 South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, and Boston in 1903 for the Massachusetts Mechanics Charitable Association.
According to historian Gary B. Nash, during this period the Liberty Bell became "the most venerated object in American history" representing "the aspiration for liberty" that united Americans. UCLA historian Pauline Maier notes how by the late 19th century the bell had "became a sacred object, a national icon second only to the flag."
A Timeless Emblem of Freedom
Today, the Liberty Bell still draws huge crowds as a monument to the power of freedom and perseverance. Housed in the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park, it receives about 1.6 million visitors each year who marvel at its size, the prominent crack, and the moving inscription that speaks to the heart of the American identity.
While the bell itself will never ring again, its message continues to resonate. In the words of philanthropist David Rubenstein, "The Liberty Bell is the most iconic symbol we have of independence and freedom, which define what it means to be American."
The Liberty Bell serves as an enduring reminder that the journey toward "liberty and justice for all" is a constant struggle – cracked and imperfect, but always worth fighting for. As long as this 2,080 pound emblem of freedom still stands, so too does the hope and promise of America.
Fun Facts about the Liberty Bell:
- The strike note of the bell was likely around E-flat, based on measurements of its dimensions and material composition.
- A tiny spelling error appears in the engraved word "Pennsylvania" – it‘s missing an "N".
- The 1970 Bicentennial design of the Eisenhower dollar coin features the Liberty Bell superimposed over the moon.
- Legend claims it cracked while tolling for the 1835 death of Chief Justice John Marshall, but this story is apocryphal.
- In the past century, the bell has only been moved a handful of times, most recently in 2015 for a special study by historians and material scientists.
So next time you find yourself in Philadelphia, be sure to pay homage to this 270-year-old icon that embodies the spirit of America. Take a moment to ponder the powerful words engraved on its surface and reflect on the profound legacy of an object that has rung out through history with the unending message of liberty and justice for all.
