We had to get free tickets to visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Once there, we were surprised at how tight the security was. We had to go through metal detectors. It reminded me of going through airport security.

Once inside, you go through a large hall with a self-guided tour where you read about the liberty bell, and see memorabilia related to it.

One interesting point is the Liberty Bell was made in England to go in the bell tower on top of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It weighs over 2000 pounds.

On the bell it says, “Proclaim Liberty thro’ all the Land to all the Inhabitants thereof.”

Within less than a year of the bell being hung in the tower it cracked. That changed the sound of the ring. But they still rang it for major events including the ratification of the Constitution.

On the government’s site for the Liberty Bell it says, “The old State House bell was first called the ‘Liberty Bell’ by a group trying to outlaw slavery. These abolitionists remembered the words on the bell and, in the 1830s, adopted it as a symbol of their cause.”

The Liberty Bell rang for the last time in February 1846. While it was being rung for George Washington’s birthday, it suffered an irreparable fracture.

Interesting Point: The Liberty Bell March, by John Philip Sousa, was written for when the bell was brought on tours around the U.S. They had parades with it. It turns out the Liberty Bell March was also used by Monty Python as its theme song. It’s very disconcerting to hear the Monty Python theme play in the background while visiting one of America’s most famous patriotic relics!