Man wearing brown vest and blue pants in center pulling on rope to ring bell. Two buildings behind archway where he stands – building on left – woman in left window, man in each of next two windows.
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof – Lev. XXV, v. x. By order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania [sic] for the State House in Philada.” -Liberty Bell Inscription The Liberty Bell, housed in the Pennsylvania State House (today called Independence Hall), was chimed to notify the citizens of Philadelphia of public notices and to celebrate important events. On July 8, 1776, the bell was transformed into an international symbol of freedom when it rang out to announce American independence from the British. The bell’s sound summoned citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.