ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The City of Allentown will soon get a new Liberty Bell. To celebrate the country’s 250th birthday next year, a new replica of the bell will be permanently on display outside the former Zion’s Reformed Church.

The original bell was hidden in the basement of the church to keep it safe from the British.

The new replica will be six feet tall and on display outside the former Zion’s Reformed Church at 620 Hamilton Street.

The Liberty Bell, originally called the State House Bell, was cast in 1752 for the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall.

The city’s current replica rests in the basement of the former Zion’s Reformed Church in honor of the real Liberty Bell when it was stashed away in 1777 from the British. The real bell can be found at 526 Market Street in Philadelphia.

“It was hidden in the basement of this church but folks drive by and don’t really think about it. Having something out here on the street level, I think it’s a really exciting opportunity to celebrate our history,” said State Sen. Nick Miller.

The new replica, Miller tells us, costs $250,000 and is being forged by a company local to Pennsylvania. The Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority contributed up to $100,000 to pay for the bell. The remaining cost was covered by donations.

“It weighs 1,500 lb. and takes about a year to actually forge. There will be an inscription on the side and some stakeholders put some input on what that exactly says to represent Allentown’s place as part of that America 250 history,” Miller explained.

A piece of the city’s history in plain sight for all to enjoy.

“It’s going to be very visible to the people that are driving and walking by and celebrating our history. It’s a pretty exciting project. Kind of a mini historical monument in downtown Allentown just representing our history as part of the America 250 project for next year,” Miller concluded.

As part of the America 250 celebrations, Lehigh County will be hosting their own Liberty Legacy Gardens and Tourism Treasure Trail. The trail will have 18 sites across the Lehigh Valley to promote tourism, attendance, and create economic opportunities.

An America 250 PA Lehigh County Making History Gala will be hosted on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. at DeSales University.

More information can be found at America 250 PA Lehigh County.