PA #1: The Liberty Bell

This weekend Greg and I got a chance to fly to Pennsylvania for a dear friend's wedding. Since you pretty much have to either pay a ton to fly into State College or drive hours from any other airport, we decided to fly into Philadelphia and see a little bit of American history. Neither of us had ever been to the great PA, so as you can imagine, we were stoked...

We also took lots of pictures for you...which explains why there will be multiple posts. Each on a great little treasure we found...

#1: The Liberty Bell

It took us awhile to get the perfect shot with the bell and Independence Hall in the background. Especially while having to fight for the front with all of the other tourists. It was much smaller than I had envisioned...

Katie and me while we waited in the "security" line...doesn't Independence Hall look like we did a little photoshop work and pasted it in? I swear we didn't...My great husband and me on the grassy knoll outside of the Liberty Bell Center.

And, in case you were wondering, here are a few facts about the glorious bell from the National Park Service's website: (sometimes I like to read all about a place beforehand so I can skip all of the readings and the videos and get to the good stuff...in this case the beautiful bell...I am such a bad tourist)

Liberty Bell Fact #1

"In 1751, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered a new bell for the State House. He asked that a Bible verse to be placed on the bell - 'Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof' (Leviticus 25:10)"

Liberty Bell Fact #2

"A bell for the Pennsylvania State House was cast in London, England, however, it cracked soon after it arrived in Philadelphia. Local craftsmen John Pass and John Stow cast a new bell in 1753, using metal from the English bell. Their names appear on the front of the bell, along with the city and the date. By 1846 a thin crack began to affect the sound of the bell. The bell was repaired in 1846 and rang for a George Washington birthday celebration, but the bell cracked again and has not been rung since. No one knows why the bell cracked either time."

Liberty Bell Fact #3

"The bell weighs about 2000 pounds. It is made of 70% copper, 25% tin, and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver. It hangs from what is believed to be its original yoke, made from American elm, also known as slippery elm."