On this day in 1776, members of Congress affixed their signatures to an
enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence.

A total fifty-six congressional delegates signed the document, including
some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration. The
delegates signed by state from North to South, beginning with Josiah
Bartlett of New Hampshire and ending with George Walton of Georgia.
John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and James Duane, Robert Livingston
and John Jay of New York refused to sign. Carter Braxton of Virginia;
Robert Morris of Pennsylvania; George Reed of Delaware; and Edward
Rutledge of South Carolina opposed the document but signed in order
to give the impression of a unanimous Congress. Five delegates were
absent: Generals George Washington, John Sullivan, James Clinton
and Christopher Gadsden and Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

On this day in 1776, a 2,000-pound copper-and-tin bell now known as the
“Liberty Bell” rings 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. It was then read to them by Col. John Nixon (below).

The Liberty Bell displayed in the chamber of the Liberty Bell Center,
with Independence Hall.