Why so many Liberty Bells?

October 14, 2007 12:34 PM

What is the meaning and/or history of Philadelphia city street signs with Liberty Bell symbols on them?

Besides the obvious explanation that they commemorate the city's role in the struggle for independence from Britain, why do some streets have them and others do not? Some sort of special historical significance?

This Yahoo Answer is unhelpful.

posted by midatlanticwanderer to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

Marking out the historic district? Or perhaps, more precisely, the bits that are part of Independence National Historical Park?
posted by holgate at 12:48 PM on October 14, 2007

Here's a (questionable?) answer from a Phillyblog.com forum..
posted by misterbrandt at 1:09 PM on October 14, 2007

The Phillyblog.com answer is probably right... the bell is on newer, replaced signs that are 5 to 7 characters long. And they're not just around Old City, but they are everywhere in Philadelphia.
posted by daninnj at 1:17 PM on October 14, 2007

That seems reasonable... should have searched there first. Thanks misterbrandt and danninj (and I've seen them in NW Philly, too).
posted by midatlanticwanderer at 4:17 PM on October 14, 2007

Besides the obvious explanation that they commemorate the city's role in the struggle for independence from Britain

The "Liberty Bell" was nicknamed such by the abolitionist movement. Before that it was just called the State House bell.

I couldn't find any information about the liberty bell street signs, but the folks at the Chamber of Commerce or City Council would probably answer your question.
posted by desuetude at 6:42 AM on October 15, 2007