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Meet the Liberty Bell fans visiting little-known replicas scattered across the country
A small group of bell hunters is visiting replicas once used in a 1950 savings bond drive, and several bells remain missing or inaccessible.
- In 1950, the Treasury Department commissioned replicas of the Liberty Bell from the Paccard Foundry in France to promote a savings bond drive. Each 2,080-pound bronze bell was distributed to states and territories nationwide.
- Many replicas arrived as 'unaccessioned artifacts' with no preservation funds or guidance, leaving them to languish outdoors for decades. Pennsylvania's own replica remains inaccessible to the public, among several others.
- Graphic designer Tom Campbell has emerged as the leading 'bell hunter,' visiting 40 replicas over three decades. Teenager Zoe Murphy and other enthusiasts also track these pieces of Americana nationwide.
- As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, orphan bells are finding new life. Kansas state Senator Elaine Bowers spearheaded restoration of a disassembled bell, now displayed outside the Docking State Office Building.
- The replica sent to Washington, D.C., went missing from storage in the early 1980s. Campbell suspects the 2,080-pound bronze bell was melted down, though tracking efforts continue.
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42 Articles
42 Articles
Associated Press News+39 Reposted by 39 other sources
Far from the original in Philadelphia, these fans hunt for the Liberty Bell replica in each state
If you can't visit the original Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, you might find a dead ringer nearby. For a 1950 bond drive, the Treasury Department commissioned replicas for each U.S. state and several territories.
·United States
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Meet the Liberty Bell fans visiting little-known replicas across the country
Want to see the Liberty Bell this semi-quincentennial but don’t have the time or cheese for a pilgrimage to Philadelphia? Have no fear: Chances are, there’s one at a state Capitol, museum or even a fire station near you. It won’t be the original, but it’ll be a dead ringer. For a savings bond drive in 1950, the Treasury Department commissioned copies of the famously broken bell, one for each U.S. state and several territories. Except for the ser…
·Philadelphia, United States
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Total News Sources42
Leaning Left12Leaning Right3Center22Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 32%
C 60%
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