What is the Liberty Bell?
Q: What is the Liberty Bell?
A: The Liberty Bell is an important and famous symbol of American independence (freedom). It used to be in the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall).
Q: Who made the Liberty Bell?
A: The bell was ordered from the London firm of Lester and Pack (which is known as the Whitechapel Bell Foundry today) in 1752.
Q: What words were inscribed on it?
A: The bell was inscribed with the words "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." These words are a part of Leviticus 25:10.
Q: How did it get its first crack?
A: The bell first cracked when it was first rung when it came to Philadelphia, and was made again twice by John Pass and John Stow, two workmen.
Q: When was it used for patriotic meetings?
A: From 1885, the City of Philadelphia, which owned the bell, allowed it to go to many different patriotic meetings. Many people came to see the bell, and it grew even more cracked. Pieces were broken off by souvenir hunters. The last such journey was in 1915. After that, the city refused any more requests of that kind.
Q: Was there a story about how it got its well-known crack?
A: Yes, one story claims that it was cracked while ringing after Chief Justice John Marshall's death in 1835.
Q: Is there any evidence that suggests that Liberty Bell rang on July 4th 1776?
A: No, there is no record that suggests this but many historians believe so due to a short story published in 1847 claiming an old bell-ringer rang it on July 4th 1776 after hearing Second Continental Congress's vote for independence which could not have been true since no announcement of Declaration had been made at that time
