{Liberty Bell}

The Liberty Bell, originally known as the State House Bell, was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly in 1751 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges. Cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, the bell famously cracked during its initial testing after arrival in Philadelphia. It was subsequently recast twice by local craftsmen John Pass and John Stow, whose names are inscribed on the bell alongside the text from Leviticus 25:10, Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.

While the bell attained its status as a symbol of American independence in the 19th century, particularly through its adoption by abolitionist groups who named it the Liberty Bell, its design reflects the traditional bell-making aesthetics of the mid-18th century. The specific bronze alloy composition and the distinctive crack—which deepened during its various uses, including ringing for the reading of the Declaration of Independence and at the funeral of Chief Justice John Marshall—have made it an enduring icon of American history. It was moved to its current home at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia in 2003 to ensure its preservation.