In 1996, Taco Bell claimed it had bought the Liberty Bell as an April Fools’ joke.
On April 1, 1996, the fast-food chain placed full-page advertisements in six major U.S. newspapers announcing that it had purchased the historic bell and renamed it the “Taco Liberty Bell.” The supposed purchase was presented as a way to help reduce the national debt.
The announcement caused real confusion. Thousands of people contacted Taco Bell and the National Park Service, prompting officials to deny that the bell had been sold. Taco Bell revealed later that day that the claim was a hoax, while White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry added another joke about selling the Lincoln Memorial to Ford.
The Liberty Bell is an American symbol housed in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. The prank did not involve KFC, Burger King, or McDonald’s; Taco Bell used a national landmark to create publicity for its brand.