Unbeknownst to some, each state and territory in the United States has its own replica U.S. Liberty Bell. In 1950, as part of its marketing campaign for savings bonds, the U.S. Department of the Treasury distributed 55 full-size replicas.
Arizona’s bell is normally displayed in front of the state capitol on railroad ties, said Laura Terech, executive director of the Arizona America250 Commission which was established in honor of America’s 250th year.
However, while a new copper base is being built by Sundt Construction, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes had the idea of putting the bell on tour, according to Laura Terech, executive director of the Arizona America250 Commission which was established in honor of America’s 250th year.
The Road to 250: Arizona Traveling Museum tour kicked off Feb. 14. It features Arizona’s Liberty Bell inside a large trailer, with one end of the museum dedicated to American history and the other side dedicated to Arizona, highlighting the military, the indigenous population, the landscape and more.
The museum will be at Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum on Sunday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire experience is free and ADA-accessible. While the trailer includes stairs, a lift is available for those who need it. Spanish translations are provided, along with an audio tour created with the Arizona Talking Book Library.
Activities at the museum include writing “Dear America … Love, Arizona” postcards that will later be displayed at the United States Capitol, leaving personal reflections on Post-it notes, and exploring a display of “Bell Facts.”
Terech said visitors can learn interesting trivia about the replica bells — including which one was struck by a car and which one is currently missing.
The replica bells have a special connection to Miami — more than 70% of the copper used to create them was sourced from local copper mines. Each bell is 2,080 lbs and nearly 5 feet tall, and weighs 2,800 lbs when the headstock is attached. The bells were made by the Paccard Foundry in France. Each one has a number on it, reflecting the order in which they were created.
Arizona’s bell is No. 14 — a detail Terech appreciates because Arizona Statehood Day falls on Feb. 14.
The traveling museum has 30 stops in all 15 Arizona counties.
“Every site across Arizona has activated it a little differently,” Terech said, with each community adding its own activities alongside the exhibit.
The tour ends April 11, before the bell is permanently installed back at the state capitol.
Terech said the exhibit was made possible through community partner support, including support from Resolution Copper and Freeport-McMoRan.
Sue Pontel, library manager at Miami Memorial Library, is coordinating the local portion of the event. She said tables will be set up on the lawn where organizations will share information or host activities.
Most of the displays will focus on local history and the work of participating organizations. Groups expected to attend include Salt River Project, the Gila County Superintendent’s Office through its Discover Arizona program, and the public libraries of Miami, Globe and San Carlos. Food trucks are also invited.
“This is a really cool thing,” Pontel said.
She also pointed out that Miami is the only museum stop in Gila County.
Bullion Plaza will be open during the exhibit with several presentations happening throughout the day in the Inspiration Room. Planned speakers include mining historian Jay Spehar and possibly Bob Bigando of the Gila County Historical Society.
All ages are welcome to the traveling museum, with activities for everyone. One doesn’t have to be a history buff to have a good time.
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