10 Interesting Facts about The Liberty Bell: One of America’s Treasures

10 Interesting Facts about the Liberty Bell: One of America’s Treasure

The Liberty Bell is one of America’s most treasured symbols for independence. The Bell currently resides in the Liberty Center, across from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each year thousands of visitors come to Independence National Historical Park to see the Bell.  Below are 10 interesting facts about this iconic symbol and treasure!  Enjoy!

1)The Liberty Bell Has a Spelling Mistake on it!

Ok, maybe at the time it wasn’t a mistake, but it is an interesting little tidbit to notice the spelling of Pennsylvania on the Liberty Bell. It is spelled ‘Pensylvania’.  Although this was an accepted spelling in the 1750’s when the bell was cast, it isn’t today and so some might think it was mistake.

Besides the ‘spelling mistake’, the Liberty Bell includes the following inscriptions:

* Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof Lev. XXV. v. X

* By order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for the State House in Philad.

* Pass and Stow

Philad

MDCCLIII

These type of Bells were often used to summon members to meetings, alert citizens about public meetings and events, and make announcements.

2) The First Liberty Bell was Melted Down

The decision to order the ‘Liberty Bell’ was decided upon in 1751.  A Bell Tower for the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) was being built at the time, and instead of using the bell provided by William Penn when he first founded the city, a new one was wanted.  But after receiving this ‘Liberty Bell’ from the makers Lester and Pack in 1752, and ringing it for the first time, the rim severely cracked.  This led to the decision to cast a new one.

This original cracked ‘Liberty Bell’ was then melted down, and John Pass and John Stow recast another one which was placed in service in 1753.  The makers names, Pass and Stow, are famously included on this Liberty Bell today.

3) The Liberty Bell was First Called the State House Bell

Although today it is known as the ‘Liberty Bell’, it wasn’t initially called the ‘Liberty Bell’.  It was called the State House Bell, and was ordered to not only replace the older bell being used in the state house at the time, but also to celebrate 50 years of William Penn’s Charter of Privileges of 1701.

The term Liberty Bell is believed first to appear in use in publications on anti-slavery rights in the 1830’s.  Later, in 1847, a story written by George Lippard entitled, Fourth of July, 1776, used the term, and became well known. This story included the image of a bellman ringing the bell on the fourth of July.  These two factors, abolition rights and linkage to July 4^th, are believed why the Liberty Bell name grew in popularity, and today, why the Liberty Bell is the iconic symbol for independence and freedom.

Another interesting fact in relation to this growing popularity of term, is that in 1865, after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and at the public viewing of Lincoln’s body, the Liberty Bell was placed at Lincoln’s head so those who passed could read the inscription, “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

4) The Liberty Bell Didn’t Ring on July 4^th, 1776

Although a national symbol for America’s independence, the Liberty Bell didn’t ring on July 4^th, 1776, to proclaim America’s Liberty.  It was actually on July 8^th, 1776, that it rang.  And there is some debate as to whether it rang even then. The weak condition of the Bell Tower might not have allowed the Liberty Bell to be rung on July 8^th.  No matter though.  Many bells were ringing on this date celebrating the event, and it is the ‘Liberty Bell’ which memorializes all those cherished rings and that day for us now.

5) The Liberty Bell Crack is a Mystery

When the first crack in the Liberty Bell appeared is a mystery.  There are various stories on how the large crack happened, but none of them can be confirmed.  For this reason, how or when, the Liberty Bell’s  major crack appeared is unclear and remains in question.  Many believe, however, that the crack happened when it was rung after the death of Chief Justice John Marshall in 1835.

What isn’t a mystery though is when the extension of the crack happened and put the Liberty Bell out of use and unringable.  This happened when the Bell was rung on Washington’s Birthday in February 1846.

6) Not Everyone Likes the Tone of the Liberty Bell’s Ring

After the recasting of the first Liberty Bell of 1751, a celebration for the second casting and ringing of the Liberty Bell was organized.  Upon ringing the bell at this event, however, not everyone is said to have liked the sound of the Liberty Bell. And can you believe it, an order to cast yet another Liberty Bell was ordered?!  This third bell, however, was not the charm.  It was decided it didn’t sound any better than the second cast Liberty Bell, and so the second cast Liberty Bell, the Pass and Stow one, remained as our ‘Liberty Bell’.

7) The Liberty Bell was Hidden in a Church during the Revolutionary War

In 1777, the Liberty Bell, housed in Philadelphia, was under great threat to be melted down by the British who were quickly approaching the city.  Bells and other such items were often melted down and recast into munitions.  For this fear, the Liberty Bell was taken down and moved, under heavy guard, to Zion German Reformed Church in what was then the town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  After the danger was over, the Liberty Bell returned to the State House.

8) The Liberty Bell Currently Rests in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As mentioned in the introduction, the Liberty Bell can be seen today at Liberty Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  From the south, it can seen from the street in it’s glass enclosure at all times.  It weighs about 2080 pounds and is comprised of copper (70%), tin (25%), and other small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver.

9) The Liberty Bell is Struck 13 Times Every July 4^th

In celebration of Independence Day, the Liberty Bell is struck 13 times, representing the original 13 states of the union, on July 4^th every year.

10)  The Liberty Bell is Magical on the $100 Dollar Bill

The Liberty Bell is part of a security feature on the $100 Dollar Bill.  On the front, inside the inkwell, you will see an image of the Liberty Bell.  But what color is it?  If you tilt it one way it is ‘Copper’.  If you tilt it another way, it is ‘Green’.   Amazing. 😊   AND FUN.  I really like that feature.  Lol.

Hope you enjoyed learning some interesting facts about the Liberty Bell!  A treasure indeed.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln

MW Newsletter Puzzle Game Solution:   A big thanks to ‘Helen’ for creating the puzzle game for the big prize!

The puzzle was entitled ‘A Ring For All’ and the answer was ‘Liberty Bell’.  Here were the clues, the answers to them, and path to follow:

Clue 1

Magic it Fenn!
Aid sly den.
Whose twin
who keys defeat?

Answer:

These are all anagrams – magnificent, deadly sins, Snow White, days of the week. They are all related to the number 7.

Clue 2

Investigate this : ZKBLLHF

You can solve this shift cipher by trial and error, but since all you have to go on is the number 7, it makes sense to just add 7, spelling GRISSOM.  Grissom was a character in CSI – and so “investigate this” is just a confirmer to the name – from C S Investigation.

Clue 3

The high-flying pilot who was not in the Pilot.
This should put people in mind of a TV show. So they should be looking for a Grissom who is *not* in CSI.  There aren’t many Grissoms around, the “high flyer” was actually astronaut Gus Grissom.

Clue 4

The “home” before Molly Brown. Subtract the number you started with.

For those who had Gus Grissom, a quick Google will show that he named his second spacecraft Molly Brown. His first capsule was Liberty Bell 7. The first clue was to the number 7, so we are left with the Liberty Bell  and the answer to our Mystery Object and Ring for All.

Congrats again to IronWill!

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