Liberty Bell, Symbol of American Independence and Freedom

Intersection of S 6th Street and Chestnut Street

Famous tourist attractions

3.9

Introduction

Outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia stands a modern clock tower, which contains one of the world's famous bells - the Liberty Bell. The inscription on the clock face reads "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." The Liberty Bell was commissioned in 1751 to commemorate William Penn's 1701 Charter of Rights. However, the bell cracked when it was first rung in 1752 and went through several major cracks and two major repairs. The current one-centimeter wide crack on the face of the bell was not caused by ringing but was a repair attempt to prevent the crack from expanding. If you look closely, you can see some hairline cracks at the top of the main crack that extend to the top of the bell, which led to people abandoning efforts to restore and use the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell is said to have been rung many times in history, with the most famous being on July 4, 1776, to call people to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. However, historians have long been skeptical of this claim. The Liberty Bell is not only a symbol of Philadelphia but also a symbol of the American spirit of freedom, deeply loved by the American people. It has witnessed the most important events in early American history. In addition to the original hanging in the gallery, there are many replicas of the Liberty Bell, but no matter which bell, they represent the values of American democracy and have a special place in the hearts of Americans.