The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell. . The bell here is an exact replica of the historic Liberty Bell housed in the tower room of Old Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The bell is 12 feet in circumference around the lip, 3 feet from lip to crown and weighs 2,080 pounds… exactly the same as the first Liberty Bell. , Originally, the bell was made at Whitechapel Foundry in London, England and arrived in America in 1752. The first time it rang, it cracked then it was recast from the same material. Again it cracked, and two local foundrymen John Pass and John Stow were engaged to remold the bell, using its same metal but adding more copper. However, on July 8th 1835, it cracked a third time tolling as the remains of Chief Justice John Marshall were being taken to Richmond for burial. It was decided then to never repair it. , Through the years, the Liberty Bell called assemblymen to meetings, rang out the hours, fire alarms, pealed for proclamations, civic celebrations and historic events. , Inscribed on the bell, in a line (in raised letters) encircling its crown, reading: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof -- LEV. XXV.X" Immediately under the sentence, also in a line encircling its crown: "By order of the assembly of the province of Pennsylvania for the State House in Philadelphia , Pass and Stow , PhiladA , MDCCLIII" , The Liberty bell has played a greater role in history than any other bell in the world. It is not only a universal symbol of liberty, equality and freedom but also the emblem of American patriotism. , Mountain View Memorial Park , Tacoma, Washington 1976.