Liberty Bell Essays -- essays research papers

Among the more obscure events in American history involves the Liberty Bells travels by running car around the United States to be placed on exhibit at numerous Worlds Fairs. From 1885 to 1915, the Liberty Bell traveled by rail on seven separate trips to eight different Worlds Fair exhibitions visiting nearly 400 cities and towns on those trips coast to coast.     At the time, the Liberty Bells trips were widely publicise so that each town where the Liberty Bell train stopped was well prepared for their venerable guest. Each stop on the way to the server Worlds Fair exhibition lasted anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. The Liberty Bell was nearly always met with military salutes, parades, patriotic symphony and throngs of cheering men, women and children.     In 1873, Philadelphian Henry Seybert donated to the City of Philadelphia a new bell and a large clock for tower of Independence Hall. Seybert commissioned the Meneely an d Kimberly Bell metalworks to cast the bell and have it installed in the steeple by July 4, 1876 in time to usher in the Centennial anniversary celebration.The bell was cast exploitation a mixture of 80% copper and 20% tin with the addition of one hundred pounds each of four stems - a British and American cannon from the battle of Saratoga and a Union and Confederate cannon from the battle of Gettysburg.     The bell weighs 13,000 pounds representing 1,000 pounds for each of the 13 original states and bears the following inscriptions     Around the crown " gloriole to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will      toward men - Luke, chapter II, verse 14."     Around the lip " Proclaim liberty throughout all the put down unto all the inhabitants      thereof - Leviticus, chapter XXV, verse 10."     Upon one position of the of the bell is c ast - "Presented to the city of Philadelphia, July      4, 1876, for the belfry of Independence Hall, by a citizen."      On the opposite side is the date "1776" and the coat of arms of the United States      set in a shield containing 13 stars.I... .... Unfortunately, the fair was not a tremendous success ascribable to low attendance - only 10 million of the expected 50 million visitors attended. Attributing to low attendance was the rain that was present on more than fractional the days the fair was open.      While the Liberty Bell remained in its home in Independence Hall not far from the fairgrounds its image was used repeatedly as a symbol of the translation. The Liberty Bell had long since come to represent liberty and freedom for the United States and using its image on Exposition souvenirs was ideal in light of the fairs theme - our nations 150th birthday.           In 1950, the United States Department of the Treasury assisted by several private companies selected a foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France to cast 55 full-sized replicas of the Liberty Bell. The bells were shipped as gifts to states and territories of the United States and the District of Columbia to be displayed and rung on patriotic occasions. This was part of a savings bond drive held from May 15 to July 4, 1950 with the slogan "Save for Your Independence."