The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall

Point of Interest #2

My second point of interest in Philadelphia is the Liberty Bell.  The Liberty Bell has long been a symbol of America, often remembered for the distinguishing crack that runs from the base of the bell 3/4 of the way to the top of the bell.  The bell was the official bell of the Pennsylvania State House, today called Independence Hall (see below).  Generally rung for public announcements, the bell was rung on July 8, 1776 to announce the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.  The inscription on the bell reads:

Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof Lev. XXV X
By Order of the ASSEMBLY of the Province of PENSYLVANIA [sic] for the State House in Philad
Pass and Stow
MCCCLIII (1753)

The first line is a verse from the Bible, from the chapter of Leviticus (Lev. XXV X).  In the second line, Pennsylvania is spelled incorrectly, as this version of the word was an accepted spelling during the 1700's.  Pass and Stow are the names of the craftsmen who re-cast the bell in Philadelphia after it cracked soon after it arrived from England. After it was recast, the bell first had a small crack in 1846 that evolved into the crack that is seen today when it was rung for George Washington's birthday celebration on February 23, 1846.  The bell weighs in at 2080 pounds and is primarily composed of copper and tin, with lesser amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver.
(All bell facts attributed to a document provided on the National Parks Services website)

 Point of Interest #3

Independence Hall is known primarily as the building where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted.  Independence Hall was also the original home of the Liberty Bell (above) but today holds the Centennial Bell.  If you are hoping to catch a glimpse of either the Declaration or the Constitution, you are out of luck because those permanently reside at the National Archives in Washington DC.  But, you can see where they were made, signed and put into action!  Independence Hall is very nice to walk around and is surrounded by a few different parks, the Liberty Bell and the Constitution Center (across the mall facing Independence Hall, saved for another entry).

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are at the heart of Center City, Philadelphia and are definitely both worth seeing if you live in the city or are visiting.  Both locations are very tourist friendly and you won't be alone whipping out your camera to snap multiple shots of these historic locations. 

You can see the proximity of the Bell to Independence Hall in this picture.  Directly across the street

The 411:
What: The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
When: Year round
Where: The Liberty Bell is located on Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets; Independence Hall is located at 520 Chestnut Street (Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets)
Why: Historical, interesting, Declaration of Independence signing, symbol of America, did I mention historical?  Lots of history and reading!
Cost: Free!  The Liberty Bell is free for all visitors, though you may have to wait in line.  Don't be discouraged by a long line, even if it spans the entire building you will be inside within 10 minutes.  It can get a bit crowded, but generally people move through the exhibit pretty quickly.  Independence Hall is free as well, however tickets ARE required for entrance.  They can be reserved online and by phone before you go there.