Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American independence located at the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia. Originally commissioned to hang in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), the bell is famous for the large crack running through it and the inscription "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof" from the Book of Leviticus. Over 2 million visitors come through every year, making it Philadelphia's most visited attraction and one of the most recognized symbols of freedom anywhere in the world.

The best part? It won't cost you a dime. Housed in a glass-walled pavilion on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets, directly across from Independence Hall, the bell sits where you can get a really good look at it. Exhibits inside the center walk you through its entire story.

History

Origins

Back in 1751, the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly ordered the bell for their new State House (now Independence Hall). They went straight to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, one of England's best bell makers at the time.

It arrived in Philadelphia in 1752. The inscription came from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." They picked this biblical verse to mark the 50th anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, which gave Pennsylvania's colonists religious freedom and a say in government.

The First Crack

Things didn't go smoothly from the start. When they tested it in Philadelphia in March 1753, the thing cracked on the very first strike. They called in local metalworkers John Pass and John Stow to fix it. These two melted the bell down and recast it with more copper to make it tougher.

The new bell went up in the State House steeple in June 1753. You can still see Pass and Stow's names cast right into the metal, along with "MDCCLIII" (1753) and that original inscription.

Revolutionary Era

During the Revolutionary War, this bell became the voice of the city. It called people and lawmakers to meetings and announcements. When something important happened, the bell rang: the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776; battle victories; the deaths of important figures; proclamations. It was the way you knew something big was going on.

When British forces closed in on Philadelphia in 1777, folks got worried. They weren't about to let the enemy melt down their bell for ammunition. So they took it down and hid it under the floorboards of Zion Reformed Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After the British left in 1778, it came back home.

The Famous Crack

Nobody's entirely sure how the main crack started. Somewhere in the early 1800s, it just developed as a thin line in the metal.

But everything changed in February 1846. The bell was rung to celebrate George Washington's birthday, and that's when the crack really opened up. It split so badly during that ringing that the bell couldn't be used anymore. They tried drilling along the crack to stop it from spreading further, but it didn't work.

Since 1846, it's been silent. The bell hasn't rung once. Sometimes it gets tapped gently for ceremonies, but that's all.

Symbol of Freedom

Here's something surprising: nobody called it the "Liberty Bell" until the 1830s. Abolitionists grabbed onto it as a symbol for their cause. That inscription about liberty "unto all the inhabitants" spoke directly to them and their fight to end slavery.

The name first showed up in an 1835 anti-slavery publication. These activists put the bell's image on pamphlets and flyers, transforming it from a dusty piece of Pennsylvania history into a national symbol. It mattered now.

The bell even traveled across America by train through the late 1800s and early 1900s, going on tour to exhibitions everywhere. That ended in 1915. They got worried about damage from all that moving around.

Visiting the Liberty Bell

Admission and Tickets

No admission fee. You don't need a ticket during slower times. But from March through December when it gets packed, you'll want a timed entry ticket to keep things manageable.

Timed Entry Tickets:

• Reserve free tickets online through the National Park Service website
• Check the Independence Visitor Center for same-day tickets
• Low-visitation periods don't require reservations

Show up early if you can, especially in summer or around holidays, if you want to skip a long wait.

Hours of Operation

Hours shift with the seasons at the Liberty Bell Center:

Most Days:

• 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Late May through Early September:

• 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Don't bother coming on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day. The place is closed.

Security Screening

You'll go through security like at an airport. Metal detector, bag screening with X-rays. The checkpoint sits at the Chestnut Street entrance. When it's crowded, expect an extra 15 to 30 minutes just for screening.

Location

Liberty Bell Center 526 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106

It's on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th, straight across from Independence Hall in Old City. The glass walls let you see both the bell inside and Independence Hall in the background. Perfect for photos.

What to See

The Bell

Walk right up and see it from every angle. The climate-controlled building has the bell mounted so you can get a complete view.

The Numbers:

• Weight: 2,080 pounds
• Circumference: 12 feet at the lip
• Height: 3 feet from lip to crown
• Made of: Copper (70%), tin (25%), and tiny bits of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver
• Inscription: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof"

Exhibits

The center has displays covering the whole story:

• How it was made and what happened early on
• Its role during the Revolution
• How abolitionists and civil rights activists claimed it
• The cross-country journeys
• People whose lives it touched and inspired

You're looking at 15 to 30 minutes before you reach the bell itself.

Photography

Feel free to take pictures. They designed the glass walls and lighting specifically so you can photograph the bell with Independence Hall visible behind it.

Don't bring a tripod during peak hours, though.

Getting There

Public Transit

SEPTA makes it easy:

Subway

• Market-Frankford Line (The L): 5th Street/Independence Hall Station is right there
• Broad Street Line (The B): Get off at City Hall, then switch to the L

Buses

• Routes 17, 21, 33, 38, 42, 44, and 48 all stop nearby

Regional Rail

• Jefferson Station, 4 blocks north
• Suburban Station, 6 blocks west

Parking

Parking's tight in this neighborhood:

• Independence Visitor Center Parking - Autopark at Independence Mall on 6th Street between Race and Arch
• Metered street parking - Limited, 2-hour limit
• Private garages - Several a short walk away

Seriously though, take the transit. The area's built for walking, and Center City hotels aren't far.

Independence Visitor Center

Stop by the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets for:

• Free timed-entry tickets if you need them
• Maps and park information
• An orientation film about Independence Hall
• Restrooms and places to grab food

It's open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM daily, with longer hours in summer.

Nearby Attractions

You're in the middle of Independence National Historical Park, surrounded by important places within a short walk:

• Independence Hall - Where the Declaration and Constitution got signed, right across the street
• Congress Hall - Where Congress met from 1790 to 1800
• Old City Hall - The Supreme Court called it home from 1791 to 1800
• Carpenters' Hall - Where the First Continental Congress met
• Benjamin Franklin's Grave - Christ Church Burial Ground, 2 blocks away
• Betsy Ross House - Historical home, 4 blocks
• National Constitution Center - Interactive museum, 3 blocks
• Museum of the American Revolution - Revolutionary War exhibits, 2 blocks

Set aside at least half a day if you're serious about exploring the whole area.

Tips for Visiting

Best Times to Visit

• Weekday mornings - Usually the shortest lines
• January and February - Fewer people overall
• Right when they open - Beat the crowds that way

Dodging Crowds

• Get your timed tickets online ahead of time during busy season
• Arrive when the doors unlock
• Go on weekdays
• Skip the summer rush and holiday weekends if you can

Accessibility

The Liberty Bell Center is fully accessible:

• Wheelchair accessible entrances and viewing areas
• ASL interpretation if you call ahead
• Audio description service
• Large-print materials

Common Questions

Can you touch the Liberty Bell?

No. Barriers protect the bell, but you can get close enough to see it really well.

Why'd it crack?

Metal fatigue. Hitting it over and over again wears metal down. The bell's composition, with all that copper in it, made it especially vulnerable. That famous big crack split open in 1846 when they rang it for Washington's birthday.

Does it still ring?

No. The crack could get worse if the bell vibrated. They tap it softly now and then for special occasions, like Independence Day, but that's it.

Is this the original bell from London?

It's actually the second version. The original from the Whitechapel Foundry cracked on the first test in 1753. John Pass and John Stow recast it, and what you see today is their version from that year.

See Also

• Independence Hall
• Independence National Historical Park
• Old City, Philadelphia
• Philadelphia history
• Benjamin Franklin

External Links

• National Park Service - Liberty Bell
• Visit Philadelphia Guide
• Independence Hall Association - Liberty Bell