Which Philadelphia bell, cast in 1752, became a symbol of American independence?

The Liberty Bell is the Philadelphia bell cast in 1752 that became a symbol of American independence.

The bell was ordered for the Pennsylvania State House, now called Independence Hall. It 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 local founders John Pass and John Stow.

Its inscription comes from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.” The wording later gave the bell powerful associations with independence, abolition, women’s suffrage, and civil rights.

The famous crack is real, but its exact origin is debated. The bell was repaired more than once before developing the large split that stopped it from being rung. It was last rung for a major public occasion on Washington’s Birthday in 1846. Today it is displayed at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia.