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 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.