History of The Liberty Bell - Page 2
On the Road
Once it was no longer used as a working bell, especially in the years after the Civil War, the Liberty Bell?s symbolic position strengthened. It started going on what were essentially barnstorming patriotic trips, mostly to World?s Fairs and similar international expositions where the United States wanted to show off its best wares and celebrate its national identity. The first trip was in January 1885, on a special railroad flatcar, making 14 stops along the way to the World?s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
Following that, it went to the World?s Columbian Exposition - otherwise known as the Chicago World?s Fair - in 1893, where John Philip Sousa composed "The Liberty Bell March" for the occasion. In 1895, the Liberty Bell made 40 celebratory stops along the way to the Cotton State and International Exposition in Atlanta, and in 1903, it made 49 stops en route to Charlestown, Massachusetts, for the 128th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This periodic Liberty Bell road show continued until 1915, when the bell took an extended trip across the country, first to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and then, in the fall, down to another such fair in San Diego. When it came back to Philadelphia, it was put back inside the first floor of Independence Hall for another 60 years, during which time it was only moved once around Philadelphia to promote War Bond sales during World War I.
Liberty To Vote
But again a group of activists were eager to use the Liberty Bell as its symbol.
Women suffragists, fighting for the right to vote, put the Liberty Bell on placards and other collateral materials to promote their mission of making voting in America legal for women.
No Place Like Home
After World War I, the Liberty Bell stood primarily in the Tower lobby of Independence Hall, the climax of visitor tours to the building. But city fathers worried that the celebration of the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976 would bring undue stresses of crowds to Independence Hall and, consequently, the Liberty Bell. To meet this impending challenge, they decided to build a glassed-in pavilion for the Bell across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. On the extremely rainy early morning hours of January 1, 1976, workers trundled the Liberty Bell across the street, where it has hung until the construction of the new Liberty Bell Center this year.
On October 9, 2003, the Liberty Bell will be moving to its new home, a larger center with an interpretive exhibit on the Bell?s significance over time. A large window will allow visitors to see it against the backdrop of its old home, Independence Hall.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.
The Liberty Bell Finds a New Home
On the Road
Once it was no longer used as a working bell, especially in the years after the Civil War, the Liberty Bell?s symbolic position strengthened. It started going on what were essentially barnstorming patriotic trips, mostly to World?s Fairs and similar international expositions where the United States wanted to show off its best wares and celebrate its national identity. The first trip was in January 1885, on a special railroad flatcar, making 14 stops along the way to the World?s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
Following that, it went to the World?s Columbian Exposition - otherwise known as the Chicago World?s Fair - in 1893, where John Philip Sousa composed "The Liberty Bell March" for the occasion. In 1895, the Liberty Bell made 40 celebratory stops along the way to the Cotton State and International Exposition in Atlanta, and in 1903, it made 49 stops en route to Charlestown, Massachusetts, for the 128th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This periodic Liberty Bell road show continued until 1915, when the bell took an extended trip across the country, first to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and then, in the fall, down to another such fair in San Diego. When it came back to Philadelphia, it was put back inside the first floor of Independence Hall for another 60 years, during which time it was only moved once around Philadelphia to promote War Bond sales during World War I.
Liberty To Vote
But again a group of activists were eager to use the Liberty Bell as its symbol. Women suffragists, fighting for the right to vote, put the Liberty Bell on placards and other collateral materials to promote their mission of making voting in America legal for women.
No Place Like Home
After World War I, the Liberty Bell stood primarily in the Tower lobby of Independence Hall, the climax of visitor tours to the building. But city fathers worried that the celebration of the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976 would bring undue stresses of crowds to Independence Hall and, consequently, the Liberty Bell. To meet this impending challenge, they decided to build a glassed-in pavilion for the Bell across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. On the extremely rainy early morning hours of January 1, 1976, workers trundled the Liberty Bell across the street, where it has hung until the construction of the new Liberty Bell Center this year.
On October 9, 2003, the Liberty Bell will be moving to its new home, a larger center with an interpretive exhibit on the Bell?s significance over time. A large window will allow visitors to see it against the backdrop of its old home, Independence Hall.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.
Once it was no longer used as a working bell, especially in the years after the Civil War, the Liberty Bell?s symbolic position strengthened. It started going on what were essentially barnstorming patriotic trips, mostly to World?s Fairs and similar international expositions where the United States wanted to show off its best wares and celebrate its national identity. The first trip was in January 1885, on a special railroad flatcar, making 14 stops along the way to the World?s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
Following that, it went to the World?s Columbian Exposition - otherwise known as the Chicago World?s Fair - in 1893, where John Philip Sousa composed "The Liberty Bell March" for the occasion. In 1895, the Liberty Bell made 40 celebratory stops along the way to the Cotton State and International Exposition in Atlanta, and in 1903, it made 49 stops en route to Charlestown, Massachusetts, for the 128th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This periodic Liberty Bell road show continued until 1915, when the bell took an extended trip across the country, first to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and then, in the fall, down to another such fair in San Diego. When it came back to Philadelphia, it was put back inside the first floor of Independence Hall for another 60 years, during which time it was only moved once around Philadelphia to promote War Bond sales during World War I.
Liberty To Vote
But again a group of activists were eager to use the Liberty Bell as its symbol.
Women suffragists, fighting for the right to vote, put the Liberty Bell on placards and other collateral materials to promote their mission of making voting in America legal for women.
No Place Like Home
After World War I, the Liberty Bell stood primarily in the Tower lobby of Independence Hall, the climax of visitor tours to the building. But city fathers worried that the celebration of the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976 would bring undue stresses of crowds to Independence Hall and, consequently, the Liberty Bell. To meet this impending challenge, they decided to build a glassed-in pavilion for the Bell across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. On the extremely rainy early morning hours of January 1, 1976, workers trundled the Liberty Bell across the street, where it has hung until the construction of the new Liberty Bell Center this year.
On October 9, 2003, the Liberty Bell will be moving to its new home, a larger center with an interpretive exhibit on the Bell?s significance over time. A large window will allow visitors to see it against the backdrop of its old home, Independence Hall.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.
The Liberty Bell Finds a New Home
On the Road
Once it was no longer used as a working bell, especially in the years after the Civil War, the Liberty Bell?s symbolic position strengthened. It started going on what were essentially barnstorming patriotic trips, mostly to World?s Fairs and similar international expositions where the United States wanted to show off its best wares and celebrate its national identity. The first trip was in January 1885, on a special railroad flatcar, making 14 stops along the way to the World?s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
Following that, it went to the World?s Columbian Exposition - otherwise known as the Chicago World?s Fair - in 1893, where John Philip Sousa composed "The Liberty Bell March" for the occasion. In 1895, the Liberty Bell made 40 celebratory stops along the way to the Cotton State and International Exposition in Atlanta, and in 1903, it made 49 stops en route to Charlestown, Massachusetts, for the 128th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This periodic Liberty Bell road show continued until 1915, when the bell took an extended trip across the country, first to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and then, in the fall, down to another such fair in San Diego. When it came back to Philadelphia, it was put back inside the first floor of Independence Hall for another 60 years, during which time it was only moved once around Philadelphia to promote War Bond sales during World War I.
Liberty To Vote
But again a group of activists were eager to use the Liberty Bell as its symbol. Women suffragists, fighting for the right to vote, put the Liberty Bell on placards and other collateral materials to promote their mission of making voting in America legal for women.
No Place Like Home
After World War I, the Liberty Bell stood primarily in the Tower lobby of Independence Hall, the climax of visitor tours to the building. But city fathers worried that the celebration of the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976 would bring undue stresses of crowds to Independence Hall and, consequently, the Liberty Bell. To meet this impending challenge, they decided to build a glassed-in pavilion for the Bell across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. On the extremely rainy early morning hours of January 1, 1976, workers trundled the Liberty Bell across the street, where it has hung until the construction of the new Liberty Bell Center this year.
On October 9, 2003, the Liberty Bell will be moving to its new home, a larger center with an interpretive exhibit on the Bell?s significance over time. A large window will allow visitors to see it against the backdrop of its old home, Independence Hall.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.
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