On what date did Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Pavilion open for the 1976 Bicentennial?

Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Pavilion opened on January 1, 1976, for the Bicentennial year.

The steel-and-glass pavilion was built in Independence National Historical Park to house the Liberty Bell and manage the enormous crowds expected during the 200th anniversary celebrations. The National Park Service feared that millions of visitors could overwhelm Independence Hall, where the bell had been displayed.

The pavilion stood across from Independence Hall and housed the bell from January 1, 1976, until October 9, 2003. It was designed as a permanent home at the time, but the building was later replaced by the larger Liberty Bell Center. The pavilion itself was demolished in 2006.

The Liberty Bell's move was controversial because the bell had long been associated with Independence Hall. The compromise location kept it nearby while separating visitor traffic from the historic building. The bell's present home, the Liberty Bell Center, opened in 2003.