Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Sam. Sam Wonders, “why is liberty bell cracked?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Sam!
Cast in London, England, in 1752, the Liberty Bell was made for the Pennsylvania State House. It was ordered by the Pennsylvania Assembly to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges.
Unfortunately, a small crack appeared in the bell shortly after it arrived in America. The bell was melted down and recast twice in 1753 by two local craftsmen, John Pass and John Stow.
Although more copper was added during each recasting, the bell eventually developed a thin crack again. By 1846, the thin crack had begun to affect the sound of the bell.
Although the bell was repaired again in 1846 just in time for it to ring for a George Washington birthday celebration, the crack remains, and the bell has not been rung since. No one knows why the crack originally appeared.
It still hangs on what experts believe is its original yoke made from American elm.