What was the Liberty Bell originally called before it gained its famous name?

The Liberty Bell was originally called the State House Bell before it became known by its modern name.

The bell was commissioned in 1751 by Pennsylvania’s Provincial Assembly for the bell tower of the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Its inscription comes from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof.”

The bell cracked soon after arriving from London and was recast twice by Philadelphia founders John Pass and John Stow. It was used to summon lawmakers, announce public meetings, and signal important civic events.

The name “Liberty Bell” became popular during the nineteenth century, especially through the work of American abolitionists who adopted the bell as a symbol of freedom. The familiar story that it rang on July 4, 1776, is not supported by a contemporary account; it may have rung when the Declaration of Independence was publicly read on July 8.