Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is one of the most enduring symbols of American independence and freedom. Cast for the Pennsylvania State House — now Independence Hall — it bears the inscription “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof,” words later embraced by Americans seeking liberty for all.

Famous for its jagged crack, the bell became a rallying emblem for abolitionists in the 19th century and, over time, for movements for civil rights and freedom worldwide. Today it draws millions of visitors to Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park.

The bell was cast in London at the Whitechapel Foundry in 1752 and hung in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House. It cracked on its first test ring in Philadelphia, and was recast twice locally by John Pass and John Stow, who added their names to it.

For decades the bell rang for public occasions in Philadelphia. In the 1830s, abolitionists adopted it as a symbol of their cause and gave it the name “Liberty Bell,” drawing on its biblical inscription from the Book of Leviticus. The bell's association with the Declaration of Independence grew into legend over the 19th century.

The famous crack widened over years of use, and the bell was retired from ringing by the mid-1840s. It later toured the country as a patriotic relic before returning to Philadelphia for good. Since 2003 it has been displayed in the Liberty Bell Center, across from Independence Hall, under the care of the National Park Service.