The origins of the Liberty Bell date back to 1751 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly Issac Norris ordered a bell for the bell tower for the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall. The bell cracked at the first ring resulting in Norris melting and recasting the Liberty Bell. This was the bell that would call lawmakers to their meetings and the townspeople together. Beginning in the late 1800s, the liberty bell traveled across the country for display at expositions and fairs. While the exact date of when the first crack occurred is unknown, it is believed that the crack happened in the early 1840s. The crack was widened during the repair job to prevent a further spread. However, that was not the case when it cracked a second time during Washington’s Birthday in 1846; it was silenced forever. Interestingly, no one living today has heard the bell ring freely.
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