What building housed Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell from January 1, 1976, during the Bicentennial?

The Liberty Bell Pavilion housed Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell from January 1, 1976, during the Bicentennial.

The pavilion opened at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 1976, as part of Philadelphia’s New Year’s Eve and Bicentennial celebrations. It gave the famous bell a dedicated visitor setting close to Independence Hall, where the bell had previously been displayed.

Officials had worried that the expected Bicentennial crowds could overwhelm Independence Hall or damage the historic building. Plans to move the bell farther away caused strong public opposition, so the eventual pavilion was built directly north of Independence Hall. The bell remained there until 2003.

The Liberty Bell Pavilion was later demolished. The Liberty Bell moved to the Liberty Bell Center, which opened in 2003 and remains its current home. The pavilion should not be confused with Independence Hall, the Pennsylvania State House where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated.