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For the last couple of months, I’ve been doing my fair share around Philadelphia … well let’s clarify that. I’ve been doing a lot of eating at decent restaurants in Philly. I’ve done very little when it comes to seeing the tourist attractions in town.
I don’t have enough interest in American History to refer to myself as “buff”, so let’s just say I’m a casual fan. Yes, I’ve been known to spend a day watching multi-part series on the History Channel (before dating and definitely before children) detailing the presidents and the history of each individual state, but I don’t have the Declaration of Independence committed to memory, nor do I know the particulars of each major battle of the Civil War. That being said, it is exciting to be able to see historical landmarks that I had read about since I was a kid, and have the opportunity to spend time in one of America’s great cities.
Most of the historical attractions in Philadelphia are around the Independence National Historical Park. That being said, finding the Liberty Bell location was quite easy, but finding the entrance to the building was little more challenging. liberty bell travel blog, liberty bell travel blog, liberty bell travel b bloglog
Where is the Liberty Bell and what time is it open? Click here for more information!
Location
The Liberty Bell Center is located at 6th and Market Streets. Entrance doors are located on the north end of the building, near the President’s House Site. Visitors exit from the south end of the building, near Chestnut Street. The GPS address is 526 Market Street.
Hours and Fees
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 6, 2016 to May 2017. Closed at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day. Check back for extended summer hours. The security screening area closes 5 minutes before the building closes.
Admission is FREE.
Ticketing
NO tickets are required. Entrance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here's 10 facts about the Liberty Bell ... Click here for more information!
1. The Liberty Bell pre-dates the Revolution. The Pennsylvania Assembly had the Liberty Bell made in 1751 to mark the 50-year anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges, which served as Pennsylvania’s original Constitution. liberty bell travel blog
2. What is written on the Bell? The following Bible verse is on the Bell: “”Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” Also included is information about the Assembly and the Bell’s maker. liberty bell travel blog
3. No one knows today when the Bell was cracked. The crack is a big subject of debate among historians. One theory is the Bell had its first crack in 1752 when it was tested on its arrival in Philadelphia. liberty bell travel blog
4. The last big crack happened on Washington’s Birthday. The Liberty Bell cracked up, literally, in February 1846, when it was rung on the holiday and then stopped ringing because of damage from a major crack. liberty bell travel blog
5. The Liberty Bell rang a lot during its functional lifetime. Between 1753 and 1846, the Bell tolled for many people and occasions. It rang to mark the signing of the Constitution, and the deaths of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
6. The Liberty Bell wasn’t the first name of this icon. The bell was originally known as the State House Bell. In the late 1830s, it acquired the name of the Liberty Bell when it became a symbol of the anti-slavery movement.
7. The bell probably didn’t ring on July 4, 1776. A magazine writer in 1847 made up the story of the bell ringing on the first Independence Day.
8. The bell may also not have rung on July 8, 1776. It is known that bells in the city of Philadelphia were ringing to celebrate the public announcement of the Declaration of Independence. According to the Independence Hall Association, the state house steeple was under repair at the time, making it unlikely for the Liberty Bell to be in use. But with no contemporary accounts, we just don’t know.
9. The Bell did go a Revolutionary road trip. In 1777, the Bell was removed from Philadelphia under armed guard and taken to Allentown, Pa., where it was hidden in a church. The fear was the British would melt the Bell and use it to make cannons. It back to Philadelphia the following year.
10. The Liberty Bell last hit the road in 1915. Back in the day, the Bell went on tour around the United States, but in the days before World War I it became clear the Bell had condition issues. Today, it resides at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, where it is occasionally tapped to mark special occasions.
If you’re thinking about visiting the Liberty Bell, I highly suggest that you go in the off season (September – April) and visit between 3pm and 5pm – you’ll be able to walk in, walk around, take your pictures and leave within a couple minutes. I spent about 30 minutes walking through the center and getting passport stamps of the Liberty Bell.
I guess someone needed an X-Ray of the Liberty Bell
As a testament to how empty the place can get in the off season … you can see through the glass – there’s no one to get in your shots 🙂
This being said, if you’re going to wait around to get a completely empty view of the Liberty Bell, then you’re going to wait a long time … and this is in the off-season.
If you’re in Philly for meetings or for a day, then you’ll definitely have to spend an hour or so visiting the Liberty Bell … if just for the requisite picture of the bell!
