The Liberty Bell is traditionally said to have rung during the first public reading of the Declaration in Philadelphia in 1776.
The bell hangs in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted at the Pennsylvania State House, now called Independence Hall. On July 8, 1776, the Declaration received one of its first public readings in the city. Later tradition connected that event with the bell, although historians have questioned whether it could actually have been rung because of its condition and the building’s access arrangements.
The bell was originally cast in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House. Its famous inscription, drawn from the biblical Book of Leviticus, calls for liberty throughout the land.
The bell cracked during the 19th century and became a powerful symbol of American independence, abolitionism, and civil rights. Today it is displayed in the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia.