National "Spirit of Liberty" Tour

In 2003, at the 300th anniversary of William Penn’s Charter of Privileges, The Providence Forum commissioned the casting of a full-size functional replica Liberty Bell, and it has been on display in many places across the country. The replica is as near exact to the original as possible, through its metallurgy, inscriptions, and size, partly because it was cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, the same foundry that cast the original bell. Our “Spirit of Liberty” Bell even has an etched crack embedded into its side, and peals in the same tone as the original, E flat.

This year, in commemoration of The Providence Forum's 10th anniversary, The Providence Forum, in conjunction with the White House Commission on Remembrance, has agreed to organize The National “Spirit of Liberty” Tour. Over a four year period, the “Spirit of Liberty” Bell will travel the nation, and be on display at two locations of prominence in each state of the union. Accompanying the “Spirit of Liberty” Bell will be a short video presentation, giving a historical overview and introduction to both the original Liberty Bell and our bell. Also available will be brochures and other resources emphasizing our nation’s heritage of religious and civil liberties.

This tour will give children and adults, who would otherwise never visit Philadelphia or become better acquainted with the Liberty Bell and what it stands for, the chance to see and learn about the “Spirit of Liberty” Bell. They will get a chance to learn about the famous original, examine its inscriptions and the Bible verse emblazoned on it, hear its peal, touch it, be photographed with it, and be enriched and energized by its timeless message “proclaiming liberty across the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

In order to secure the funding required to make this project possible, one of our generous donors has challenged The Providence Forum and its supporters to raise the $1.1 million necessary to execute this 4-year project. This donor has contributed $11,000, and has issued the challenge for an additional 99 donors to contribute $11,000 each, becoming the special friends and patrons of the National “Spirit of Liberty” Tour. The tour is scheduled to launch this fall in our nation’s capital, so there’s no time to spare in raising the required funding. Won’t you consider becoming a Patron of Liberty with a special gift to this project?

The “Spirit of Liberty” Bell had been in Atlanta, GA, at the Circa History Guild from January until April, and has just returned from the C&O Canal National Historic Park in Oldtown, Maryland, site of the Maryland State Liberty Tree (contributed by The Providence Forum), and from Boston, MA, where it was on display in honor of Independence Day at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. On September 26 the “Spirit of Liberty” Bell will be at the White House Commission on Remembrance’s Time of Remembrance on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

For more information on the National “Spirit of Liberty” Tour, and on how you can be an integral part of making this project a reality, click here to register or write to us at info@providenceforum.org, or call toll free 1-866-55 FORUM.