On one of our state house visits, we noticed a full sized liberty bell replica which we could touch, unlike the “real” one in Philadelphia. When we found out there are these liberty bell replicas in every state, we wanted to visit them all.
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Table of contents
What are these liberty bell replicas?
Three score and ten years ago, soon after World War II, as part of the Marshall Plan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury held a “Save For Your Independence” savings bond drive. To support the drive, they cast fifty-seven full-size replicas of the American Liberty Bell (one for each state and U.S. territory). Surprisingly enough, they used a bell foundry in Annency-le-Vieux, France.
Why France you might ask? Go and read the long, well researched and fascinating story of the Packard Bell Foundry.
After every bell was cast and delivered to the US Treasury Department, they sent one to every state and territory. With the bells came the stipulation to display it on state capitol grounds and give free access to it. Most states followed these rules, but not all.
Usually the bells have a plaque reading
DEDICATED TO YOU, A FREE CITIZEN IN A FREE LAND
The dimensions and tone are identical with those of the original Liberty Bell when it rang out our independence in 1776.
In standing before this symbol you have the opportunity to dedicate yourself as did our founding fathers, to the principles of the individual freedom for which our nation stands.
Liberty Bell replica #42, Concord, NH
Every Liberty Bell Replica has a Serial Number
Soon after starting our quest to visit each state’s bell, we found out that each has a unique serial number. While not always easy to find, it promotes a close and hands-on examination of the bell. Usually we are successful. With the exception of the one in Juneau, Alaska, we have located and photographed all the ones we have been close to.
In this table you can see which replicas we have visited so far with their serial numbers. The numbering scheme does not appear to be in any “sensible” order, e.g. entry into the union. Any ideas?
| State Liberty Bell | Serial Number | Location |
| New Hampshire | 42 | State House lawn, Concord |
| Vermont | 45 | Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, close to the Vermont State House. |
| Massachusetts | State House , Boston, not easy to access | |
| Maine | 40 | State House lawn, Augusta |
| Connecticut | 26 | Inside the State Capitol, Hartford |
| Rhode Island | 37 | In the State Capitol, Providence |
| New York | ? | Inside the State Education Building across the street from the Capitol, Albany |
| Washington | 3 | Tacoma, in a park close to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. |
| Alaska | ? | In front of the State Capitol in Juneau, we couldn’t find the number on the bell |
| St Thomas, US Virgin Islands | 51 | Emancipation Garden in Charlotte Amalie, capital of the US Virgin Islands |
Our State Liberty Bell Quest
So far, as the treasury department requested, most of “our” liberty bells were at state capitols and state houses but of course some don’t comply and were not publicly accessible or not on the Capitol grounds. Here are some of our quest stories.
Washington state’s Liberty Bell Replica is in Tacoma
When we visited the Washington state capitol in Olympia, we were surprised we could not find the promised liberty bell replica. After some asking around, we found out theirs is in Tacoma, WA, but still freely accessible.
Once we arrived in Tacoma, it still took us some time to find the bell. Eventually figure it out. This bell is in a lovely park, next to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass which you should visit for sure!
Massachusetts Locked Up their Liberty Bell
Although the Massachusetts liberty bell replica is on the grounds of their state house in Boston, it is almost impossible to visit it, let alone touch it. With lots of persistence and determination, we managed to get a picture, but it is disappointing they don’t grant easy access to this symbol of our independence, especially in Boston.
In addition to the Liberty Bell replica, go explore the Old State House when you are in Boston and find out the truth about the Boston Massacre.
July 4th 2020 Update: Rick Brock from a liberty bell page on facebook kindly gave us the correct number. Thank you, Rick!
Vermont Put their Bell in a Museum
After our visit to the Vermont state house, we visited our second Liberty Bell replica in the Vermont History Museum next door. Although not as hard to find as Massachusetts’ bell, it still took some inquiries and time before we located it. Turns out it was even harder to locate its serial number, but we did eventually find it.
New York Didn’t Allow Access
In Albany we found another transgressor who didn’t allow public access. Their bell is inside the State Education Building across the street from the Capitol. Sadly, only people who work there can get into the building, so the best we could do was to take a picture from afar and unsuccessfully beg for access to it.
Back then they used to have weekly tours of the state education building, which included a visit to the liberty bell, but we don’t know if and when that will start up again.
St Thomas: Second Cruising Bell
When we tried to figure out how to visit the Alaska bell in Juneau, it turned out that the easiest and cheapest way was by going on an Alaska cruise! Not only did we get to see the state house and the bell, but we also spent time with rapidly decreasing glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park.
Since we enjoyed that cruise so much, we signed up for another one, this time in the Caribbean. Winters in New Hampshire are long and snowy, so the promised sun in the Caribbean was an easy sell. Even better, we got to visit St Thomas, which houses their Liberty Bell replica in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the US Virgin Islands.
During that same cruise we were close to the replica in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but we didn’t have enough time to visit it. We will have to so on our next Caribbean cruise, I guess.
What is the Inscription on the Liberty Bell?
Since the bells are an exact copy, these replicas have the same inscription as the original one in Philadelpia.
PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF. LEV. XXV X [Levicticus 25:10, in the Holy Bible]. BY ORDER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE STATE HOUSE IN PHILADA [Philadelphia] PASS AND STOW PHILADA [Philadelphia] MDCCLIII [1753]
Liberty Bell inscription
State Liberty Bell Replicas Conclusion
As always, we love having a reason to travel and learn about US and world history. Have you been to any of these replicas? Or even to the original liberty bell in Pennsylvania?
More info to check out
- Location of each replica. Includes good stories about all the bells Tom has found.
- Smithsonian article on the original liberty bell.
An amazing article about the original liberty bell and its field trips! - The Boston bell might get freed!
- Ten Surprising New Hampshire State House Facts New Hampshire people are cheapskates!
- Ten Surprising Vermont State House Facts Discover ancient fossils;
- The Maine State House With bells on;
- The Massachusetts State House Where the Boston Italian North End was born;
- The Old State House in Boston, site of the Boston Massacre.
- Connecticut Capitol Fun Facts Home of the so-called “Black Law”;
- Rhode Island State House: Ten Surprising Facts Discover its Dutch history;
- New York State Capitol. An expensive boondoggle;
- Alaska Capitol. Which animal guards it?
- Washington State Capitol. Women’s suffrage for the win!
- Breaking news: why Puerto Rico has a State House of its own!
- The US Virgin Islands have a Capitol Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Voted the state Capitol building with the best view!
- Get inspired by our Travel Quests and start your own!
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