What was the original name of the bell now known as the Liberty Bell?

The bell now known as the Liberty Bell was originally called the State House Bell.

The bell was ordered in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House, the building now known as Independence Hall. Its inscription came from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof.” The inscription gave the bell a powerful symbolic association with liberty, although its original official name was simply the State House Bell.

The bell was cast in London and arrived in Philadelphia in 1752. It cracked during an initial test and was recast in Philadelphia by John Pass and John Stow. The better-known crack developed later, and the bell was no longer rung regularly by the mid-19th century.

The name Liberty Bell became popular during the 19th century, especially as abolitionists used the bell’s inscription in arguments against slavery. Another common misconception is that the bell rang when the Declaration of Independence was adopted; no contemporary evidence confirms that story. Its enduring fame comes from the inscription, its association with Independence Hall, and its later symbolism.