Who’s Behind These Bells Appearing Across Philly?

Pennsylvania is home to iconic bells. We have the Bicentennial Bell, which was gifted to us by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976. Then there’s the Justice Bell, which was created to gather support for the women’s suffrage movement. And of course there's the most famous of them all, the Liberty Bell, one of the most recognizable symbols of American independence (crack and all).

Now, over 100 painted bells will be scattered across the state in celebration of the semiquincentennial. Organized by America250PA, “Bells Across PA” consists of fiberglass bells that celebrate unique communities in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. In Philadelphia, 16 artists worked in collaboration with Mural Arts on 22 bells that will adorn the city.

“Each bell carries the voice of a Philadelphia neighborhood and echoes it across the Commonwealth, inspiring people to move beyond the city and experience a Pennsylvania that is alive with history, culture, and possibility,” said Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, in a statement.

The bells will be installed in their respective neighborhoods this spring. Here's where you can find them in Philly:

Other replica bells can already be found at Mother Bethel AME’s Richard Allen Museum, the Philadelphia Visitor Center, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.