She’s the symbol of American independence in the heart of the birthplace of freedom. Every year, visitors flock to the Liberty Bell from around the world, waiting in long lines for a chance to get close to the bell, snap a picture, and hear her story. But while the basic historical facts are widely considered common knowledge, some more unusual questions had gone unanswered. During a recent visit to Independence National Historical Park, I spoke with Julian Blanco, a park ranger. Here are five Liberty Bell fun facts worth knowing.

Five Liberty Bell Fun Facts Worth Knowing

1. In the inscription on the bell, many people think “Pensylvania” is spelled wrong because it doesn’t have the double ‘N’ in it — but in the 18^th century, you could spell words a lot more liberally and they would still be considered correct.

“Many people practiced what you’ll recall as alternate spellings,” said Blanco. “Benjamin Franklin spelled the word ‘public’ with a ‘K’ instead of a ‘C.’ Depending on your regional dialect and your level of education, you would have a pretty free hand in spelling. George Washington would write a word differently than say, John Adams.”

2. During spring and summer months and when the park is expecting school groups, the number of visitors to the Liberty Bell averages anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 a day — roughly 3.5 to 4 million people annually. During the slow season it drops to around 2,000 a day, and the lines are much shorter.

“Most want to see Independence Hall, but during the height of the season, access can be scarce as you can only fit so many people in per hour. Winter is actually the best time to visit,” said Blanco.

3. There is no entry fee to see the bell. The Liberty Bell Center accepts donations.

4. Some visitors express wild enthusiasm when they first lay eyes upon the big bell. According to Blanco, he’s witnessed people try to hug it, kiss it, lick it, and even racier antics.

“Most people are pretty respectful of the bell. Nine times out of 10, it’s a little kid who will run under the ropes and touch the bell,” he said. “It once made a ‘donk’ sound when a little kid ran under the ropes and did a header right to the side of it, fell down and started crying. The bell was undamaged but the kid had a nice shiner from that.”

5. A common misconception about the Liberty Bell is that the big, obvious crack down the front is the crack — but it is actually the repair job. The channel drilled into the bell was done deliberately to prevent a hairline fracture that started in the “P” in “Philadelphia” from spreading.

“That’s the crack that occurred in February 1846 that silenced the bell,” said Blanco. The technique — stop drilling — separates the edges of the fracture to eliminate resonance, restore the bell’s pitch, and prevent the crack from spreading. “It worked for Big Ben, but it didn’t work for the Liberty Bell.”

Photos: Jenny DeHuff, Todd Lacy.

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Jenny DeHuff

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