Bicentennial Bell in 1976/NPS file

Ground has been broken in Philadelphia near Independence Hall National Historical Park to showcase a bronze and tin bell that Queen Elizabeth II presented to the United States in 1976 to commemorate the United States' 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Bicentennial Bell rang for nearly four decades from its tower outside the visitor center at Independence National Historical Park. With each ring, it reminded people of the Queen’s gratitude to America’s Founding Fathers for teaching the British “to respect the right of others to govern themselves in their own way.”

The only problem was that nobody could actually see this bronze beauty that had been cast at the same place as the Liberty Bell — the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. And then in 2013, when it came time to demolish the visitor center, the bell was put in storage.

Now, a little-known garden at 3rd and Walnut Streets is closing for work to transform the Benjamin Rush Garden into the Bicentennial Bell Garden. The project, which will return the historic bell to the public and create a fresh, accessible space, is a collaborative effort between Independence National Historical Park and its non-profit philanthropic partner, the Independence Historical Trust.

Between 1976 and 2013 this bell was in a prominent location at the park's old visitor center until being placed in storage when that building was demolished to make way for the Museum of the American Revolution. The Bicentennial Bell will once again be on public display in the center of this new garden, suspended in air by an armature.

“Bringing the Bicentennial Bell to its new home is just one of the many exciting projects being completed as the park prepares for our nation’s 250th birthday in 2026,” said acting Superintendent Alexcy Romero. “The Queen graciously presented this bell to the former colonies on America’s 200th birthday, and this project will place that bell back on public display, just in time for our next milestone celebration.

The project is partially funded by the Independence Historical Trust through a $1 million donation from The Landenberger Family Foundation. The donation facilitated the concept and design phases of the project, the design, fabrication and installation of the bell’s armature, and other crucial elements.

"The Landenberger Family traces its roots in Philadelphia back to the American Revolution. The Foundation is proud to celebrate this period of our history by revitalizing this garden and permanently installing the Bicentennial Bell amid the city's most important historical sites,” said Joseph Glyn and Elie Glyn, directors of The Landenberger Family Foundation.

The National Park Service will now oversee the construction phase of the project. Rehabilitation of the garden includes connecting the upper and lower portions with a ramp to make the space accessible to all visitors, fixing the water feature on the north wall, and planting shrubs and other plants that were traded between Great Britain and her North American colonies during the 1700s.

“I think we’re all excited to have the Bicentennial Bell displayed in the park where it can be appreciated by everyone who visits. It’s an important piece of our history and commemorates 200 years of American independence. The timing is right to get this completed ahead of 2026 when we’ll be celebrating the 250th anniversary,” said Tom Caramanico, executive director of Independence Historical Trust.

A rendering of how the Bicentennial Bell Garden will look in 2024 with the royal bell as a focal point/Courtesy of Independence Historical Trust