Liberty Bell Museum facts for kids
Replica Liberty Bell in the Liberty Bell Museum, basement of Zion's Church
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| Established | 1962 |
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| Location | 622 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, Pennsylvania 18102 |
| Type | History museum |
| Public transit access |  LANTA bus: 102, 107, 210, 220, 324 |
The Liberty Bell Museum (also called the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum) is a special place in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. It's a non-profit museum located inside Zion's United Church of Christ. This church is famous because the real Liberty Bell was hidden there during the American Revolutionary War.
The museum shows exhibits about the Liberty Bell. It also teaches about important ideas like liberty, freedom, and patriotism. You can also learn about local history. A cool part of the museum is a full-size copy of the Liberty Bell. This replica was made in France in 1950. It was part of a special project by the United States Department of the Treasury. Visitors are allowed to ring this bell! The museum was started in 1962 by Ralph H. Griesemer and Dr. Morgan D. Person.
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The Liberty Bell's Secret Hiding Place
In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, things were tough for the American colonists. After a battle near Philadelphia, the city was in danger. The British Army might attack it. Leaders in Pennsylvania worried the British would take important bells. They thought the British might melt the bells down to make cannons. So, they decided to move eleven important bells out of Philadelphia. This included the famous State House bell, which we now call the Liberty Bell.
A long line of over 700 wagons left Philadelphia. About 200 soldiers guarded them. The bells were hidden carefully under hay and manure. This was to keep them safe from the British. The State House bell was hidden in a wagon driven by a soldier named John Jacob Mickley.
On September 23, 1777, most of the bells arrived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The next day, the State House bell was moved. It went into a wagon driven by Frederick Leaser. He took it to the historic Zion Reformed Church in Allentown. There, the Liberty Bell was hidden safely under the church's floorboards. It stayed there all winter.
On September 26, British forces marched into Philadelphia. They took over the city without a fight. But they never found the Liberty Bell! The bell was brought back to Philadelphia in June 1778. This was after the British left the city. In 1908, a special plaque was placed at Zion Reformed Church. It honors John Jacob Mickley and Frederick Leaser for their brave actions.
Allentown Flag Day Association
The Liberty Bell Museum is also the home of the Allentown Flag Day Association. This group was started in 1907 by Joe Hart and General Harry Clay Trexler. It is the oldest group in the United States that celebrates Flag Day. Flag Day is a holiday that honors the American flag. One of their biggest events was in 1922. About 50,000 people came to honor General John J. Pershing with an award.
Pip the Mouse's New Home
Since 2003, the Liberty Bell Museum has been the permanent home of Pip the Mouse. Pip is a puppet who was part of a popular holiday show. The show was called "The Mouse Before Christmas." It was performed at Hess's, a local department store that is now closed. The show ran from 1962 to 1995. Pip became very famous among children in the area. He was a big part of the store's ads and marketing.
Gallery
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This picture shows the Liberty Bell arriving at Zion's Church in Allentown in 1777.
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This is a drawing of the Zion's Reformed United Church of Christ. This church was built in 1773 and was where the Liberty Bell was hidden.
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This plaque honors John Jacob Mickley and Frederick Leaser for saving the Liberty Bell.
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The entrance to the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum.
Images for kids
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The Liberty Bell Museum is inside Zion United Church of Christ. This is where the Liberty Bell was hidden from the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
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The Liberty Bell visited Allentown again in 1893. It was on its way back to Philadelphia after the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
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Zion's Reformed Church in 1908, before the Mickley-Leaser plaque was put up.
