The Bell Crack'd

The Liberty Bell, so says tradition, cracked July 8th, l835. Apparently there is some evidence that the crack first appeared on Washington's birthday 1835. We may never know for sure.

It was first known as the State House Bell. Eighty six years later it became known by its current name.

So history tells us that it was rung July 8th 1776, for the first time. The occasion was to celebrate the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence, which had been adopted on July 4th.

Fifty-nine years later in 1835, on either July 8th or February 22nd, the crack first appeared.

If one chooses to accept that the crack first appeared on July 8th, then today marks the 174th anniversary of that incident.