What was the Liberty Bell originally called before it became known by its famous nickname?

The Liberty Bell was originally called the State House Bell.

The bell was ordered in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. The Pennsylvania Assembly commissioned it to mark the 50th anniversary of William Penn’s Charter of Privileges. The bell was cast in London by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and arrived in Philadelphia in 1752.

The bell cracked during an early test and was recast in Philadelphia by John Pass and John Stow. Its inscription comes from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.” That wording later helped connect the bell with American ideals of liberty.

The nickname “Liberty Bell” became widely popular in the 19th century, especially through abolitionist use of the bell as a symbol. The famous crack developed during the 19th century, though the exact date and cause remain uncertain. The bell is now displayed at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia.