The famous old bell was on exhibition, carefully guarded,
at the Pennsylvania State Building. It was
brought to St. Louis on the petition of 75,000 school children, who wished
to enjoy the inspiration of its presence. Among the bells of the world,
no one has been associated with events as great import to humanity as the
Liberty Bell. The original bell was cast by Thomas Lester, Whitechapel.
London, in 1752. It cracked shortly after it was hung and was recast by
Pass & Stow, Philadelphia, April 17, 1753. On July 8, 1776, it proclaimed
the Declaration of Independence to the world, and on July 8, 1835, rang
for the last time. While slowly tolling, during the funeral solemnities
over the remains of Chief Justice John Marshall, it parted through its great
side and was silent, forever. The Liberty Bell had been removed from it's
building on four previous occasions -- during the Revolution, September,
1777, to keep it from the British; and to several expositions at New Orleans,
January 23, 1885; Chicago, April 25, 1893 and Atlanta, October 24, 1895.
The Bell is 12 feet in circumference around the lip and 7 feet 6 inches
around the crown; it is 3 feet following the line of the bell from the lip
to the crown, and 2 feet 3 inches over the crown. It is 3 inches thick in
the thickest part near the lip, and 1.25 inches thick in the thinnest part
toward the crown. The length of the clapper is 3 feet 2 inches, and the
weight of the whole is 2,080 pounds.
It is lettered in a line encircling the crown with the sentence: -- "Proclaim
LIBERTY Throughout ALL the LAND Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof. LV. XXV,
V, X."
The Bell rested on a movable platform. When it rang for the Declaration,
it hung in a heavy wooden frame; the frame was ordered by the Assembly when
the Bell arrived in 1753; it was taken down from the steeple with the Bell
on July 16, 1781 and placed in the tower below where it still remains.
During the Exposition hours the Bell was visited at will, no card of admission
was required. The sacred relic was guarded by stalwart Philadelphia policemen
and was protected by a railing from vandal touch. "Liberty Bell Day"
was one of the great events of June, the children turning out in mass to
welcome Liberty's messenger. An excort of cavalry accompanied the Bell to
its temporary quarters.
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to contact me at
Terry's 1904 World's Fair Page.