The Liberty Bell is associated with summoning Philadelphia’s citizens when the Declaration of Independence was announced.
The bell was cast in 1751–1752 for the Pennsylvania State House, the building now called Independence Hall. Its inscription quotes Leviticus: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” The bell cracked during an early test and was recast in Philadelphia.
A popular tradition says the bell rang on July 4, 1776, calling people to hear the Declaration. Historians consider that story unlikely because the declaration was not publicly read in Philadelphia until July 8. The bell’s connection with independence grew much stronger during the nineteenth century.
The Liberty Bell’s major crack is another famous feature, though its exact history is debated. It was last rung publicly in 1846 and is now displayed in the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, making it a natural symbol in anniversary programs connected with the Revolution and America250.