Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Liberty Bell has become an icon of American independence. No tickets are required to view this symbol of Philadelphia and America as a whole that attracts more than one million visitors each year.
The notoriety that the Liberty Bell represents has enabled the construction of a facility and park that were specifically built to house the icon. Residing in Independence National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell showcases the kind of economic and cultural impact that an icon can have on a city and an entire nation.
Proclaiming Liberty Throughout All the Land
In 1751, the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly paid around 100 pounds for a large bell to hang in its new State House (later known as Independence Hall). Arriving in Philadelphia in 1752, it cracked during a test strike and had to be recast twice because the metal was too brittle. On July 8, 1776, the bell was rung to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. While many argue about when the first crack appeared, it is agreed that the final expansion of the crack which rendered the Bell unringable was on Washington’s Birthday in 1846.
Originally known as the State House Bell, it wasn’t called the “Liberty Bell” until the 1830s, when an abolitionist group adopted it as a symbol of their own cause after taking a cue from words that are inscribed on the bell from the bible: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land Unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
The Liberty Bell’s transition from signal to symbol was a gradual one, as the bell went from being tied to the American Revolution to becoming a traveling icon of freedom after the Civil War when it went to cities and towns across the country. In the 20th century, it began to be recognized around the globe for the inclusive message it represented as other people and nations fought for their own freedom.
In 1972, the Park Service announced plans to build a large glass tower for the bell two blocks east of Independence Hall. The bell was moved to a glass-and-steel Liberty Bell Pavilion, about 200 yards (180 m) from its old home at Independence Hall in 1976. However, a redesign of Independence Mall in the 1990s saw the creation of a bigger complex. The Liberty Bell Center, built to the west of the Pavilion, opened in October of 2003 and nowhouses the Liberty Bell.
Independence Hall is viewable from the Liberty Bell Center, where visitors can get an up-close-and-personal experience with the Liberty Bell itself. However, there’s so much more for them to experience in the complex, all of which has enabled to Liberty Bell to become an even more important monument to Philadelphia and the United States.
The Cultural and Economic Impact of an Icon
The Liberty Bell’s home on Independence Mall was designed to serve as a fitting home for the bell while also providing the proper context and space for visitors. The center showcases historic documents and graphic images that highlight the many facts and the myths surrounding the bell, creating distinct experiences for residents, students and visitors from across America and the entire world. They can also get up close with the Liberty Bell itself to see the famous crack and pose for pictures.
Exhibits line the left side of the hallway in the Liberty Bell Center. Topics range from an exploration of the origin of the bell to its use by abolitionists and advocates for women’s suffrage. The exhibit area also includes a video presentation (approximately 10 minutes long) about the Liberty Bell. Information about the Liberty Bell is available in a dozen languages.
This engagement isn’t just focused on residents and visitors though. Lesson plans about the Liberty Bell are available on the park’s “For Teachers” page. “The Liberty Bell: From Obscurity to Icon”, is a Teaching with Historic Places lesson plan that is also available online. On every Fourth of July, at 2pm Eastern time, children who are descendants of Declaration signers symbolically tap the Liberty Bell 13 times while bells across the nation also ring 13 times in honor of the patriots from the original 13 states.
The direct and indirect economic impact of the Liberty Bell is also quite profound. The Liberty Bell has become an essential element of Philadelphia sightseeing tours and groups but has also been incorporated into countless pieces of memorabilia, businesses and literal pieces of the culture.
The Liberty Bell has appeared on several U.S. postage stamps, including the first forever stamp, issued since 2007. An image of the Liberty Bell appears on the current $100 note. The name “Liberty Bell” or “Liberty Belle” is also commonly used for commercial purposes. Representations of the Liberty Bell have been used by life insurance companies and tour groups but have also been incorporated into everything from fast food promotions to publicity stunts.
The economic and cultural resonance of the Liberty Bell is recognizable in countless ways. This impact highlights how monuments can come to define the legacy of distinct eras as well as an entire nation.
An Icon of Numerous Eras and Peoples
Like other monuments that have become synonymous with the United States of America as well as monuments that have become powerful symbols, the Liberty Bell is about much more than metal and wood. In becoming a worldwide symbol that promotes a message of liberty and freedom, the Liberty Bell showcases what monuments can come to represent for various groups of people from all different eras.
In doing so, the Liberty Bell has created a legacy that will continue to shape and positively contribute to the culture and economy of Philadelphia and all of America.
