Liberty Bell Center

Learn more about the significance of the liberty bell.

The Liberty Bell, also known as the State House bell, is an iconic symbol in the proclamation of liberty that the American people fought for in the late 1700s. The bell was made in 1751, and on the first ring, it cracked. John Pass and John Stow took that bell and melted it to cast another bell that would fill the bell tower of Independence Hall. The significance of the Liberty Bell is that it was used to call lawmakers to meetings in the Assembly Room in Independence Hall during the Revolutionary War, as well as other political meetings that would happen after the war.

It wasn’t until the 1830s when the State House bell was noticed as a significant piece in the quest for liberty, and thus received the name of the Liberty Bell. There is an inscription on the bell taken from the Bible: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” This verse was chosen by Isaac Norris, who was the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly at the time. It was done in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of religious freedom and the self-governing nation of the United States. This verse would later stand as an inspiration for the fight for ending slavery and the abolition movement for women’s rights.

A model of the original Liberty Bell is now on display at the Liberty Bell Center where guests can see the famous crack. The Liberty Center is a great place to learn more about the important role of the Liberty Bell in early American history.