On July 8, 1776, a 2,000-pound copper-and-tin bell now known
as the “Liberty Bell” rang out from the tower of the Pennsylvania
State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, summoning
citizens to the first public reading of the United States Declaration
of Independence.

Four days earlier, the historic document had been adopted by
delegates to the Continental Congress, but the bell did not ring
to announce the issuing of the document until the Declaration
of Independence returned from the printer on July 8.