LANCASTER, MATT BARCARO WGAL NEWS EIGHT. MILLIONS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THE LIBERTY BELL IN PHILADELPHIA. BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR RESOURCES TO MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE, THERE MAY JUST BE A LIBERTY BELL AT A GOVERNMENT BUILDING, MUSEUM, OR EVEN A FIRE STATION WAITING FOR THEM. IT WON’T BE THE ORIGINAL, BUT IT WILL BE A DEAD RINGER. WE GET IT FOR A SAVINGS BOND DRIVE. IN 1950. THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONED COPIES OF THE FAMOUSLY BROKEN BELL. ONE FOR EACH U.S. STATE AND SEVERAL TERRITORIES. EXCEPT FOR THE SERIAL NUMBERS, THEY WERE FAITHFUL REPLICAS RIGHT DOWN TO THE PASS AND STOW TRADEMARK AND A FAKE CRACK. C1 AND NOW THERE IS C1 C1 BEING RESTORED. C1 BELLS. I’VE BEEN TO 41 STATES, BUT C
Replica Liberty Bells spark interest ahead of Pennsylvania’s semi-quincentennial
Updated: 7:11 PM EDT Apr 29, 2026
Millions of visitors are expected in Pennsylvania for the semi-quincentennial, and many will likely visit Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell. For those unable to make the trip, replica Liberty Bells may be found at government buildings, museums, or even fire stations. While not the original, these replicas are faithful reproductions.1950 Treasury projectIn 1950, the U.S. Treasury Department commissioned replicas of the Liberty Bell as part of a savings bond drive, creating one for each U.S. state and several territories.These replicas, except for their serial numbers, were designed to be exact copies, complete with the “Pass and Stow” trademark and a simulated crack.Bell huntersA small but growing group of “bell hunters” has dedicated themselves to visiting as many of these replicas as possible. “So far, I’ve visited 39 Liberty Bells. I’ve been to 41 states, but unfortunately some of them were under construction,” Zoe Murphy said. “I’ve never been to Hawaii’s bell. And, presumably, that’s going to be the last one we go to,” she added.Restoration and Pennsylvania’s bellOver the years, many of the replicas have been neglected, moved, or hidden from public view, but some are being restored ahead of the 250th anniversary. Pennsylvania’s replica Liberty Bell is located in the former Zion’s Reformed Church of Allentown, which is historically significant as the site where the original Liberty Bell was briefly kept in 1777 to hide it from British forces during the Revolutionary War.
Millions of visitors are expected in Pennsylvania for the semi-quincentennial, and many will likely visit Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell.
For those unable to make the trip, replica Liberty Bells may be found at government buildings, museums, or even fire stations. While not the original, these replicas are faithful reproductions.
1950 Treasury project
In 1950, the U.S. Treasury Department commissioned replicas of the Liberty Bell as part of a savings bond drive, creating one for each U.S. state and several territories.
These replicas, except for their serial numbers, were designed to be exact copies, complete with the “Pass and Stow” trademark and a simulated crack.
Bell hunters
A small but growing group of “bell hunters” has dedicated themselves to visiting as many of these replicas as possible.
“So far, I’ve visited 39 Liberty Bells. I’ve been to 41 states, but unfortunately some of them were under construction,” Zoe Murphy said. “I’ve never been to Hawaii’s bell. And, presumably, that’s going to be the last one we go to,” she added.
Restoration and Pennsylvania’s bell
Over the years, many of the replicas have been neglected, moved, or hidden from public view, but some are being restored ahead of the 250th anniversary.
Pennsylvania’s replica Liberty Bell is located in the former Zion’s Reformed Church of Allentown, which is historically significant as the site where the original Liberty Bell was briefly kept in 1777 to hide it from British forces during the Revolutionary War.