Thread: Liberty Bell Museum

A short (30 minutes or so) from Port Canaveral, in Melbourne, Florida, is the Liberty Bell Museum.

The most important project of Honor America Inc., the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum represents over 300 years of United States history and inspires pride in America's achievements and cultural heritage. Its focus is a full-size replica of the original Liberty Bell. Cast by none other than the Whitechapel Foundry in London, England - the makers of the original bell - this authentic recreation is believed to be one of only twenty-five known to exist in the world. Visitors can tap the Bell with a rubber mallet and hear the ring of freedom!

Other features include artifacts and memorabilia from all American wars, model warships and airplanes, weapons, clothing, a gallery of US flags, full-size photographic reproductions of important documents, local history and much more. The museum's large and evolving inventory is continuously rotated, so you may visit often. Come see your history at the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum.

Free admission.

HOW MELBOURNE GOT THIS BELL

The story of how we came to own our Bell is as interesting as it is improbable.

In 1971, a program commemorating our nation's Bicentennial Celebration was chartered to create up to 100 full-size uncracked replicas of the original Liberty Bell. Created by none other than London England's Whitechapel Foundry - the very same that cast the original bell in 1752 - the bells were authentic in every detail.

Only two bells were offered to each state. Disney was the first to submit a request for one of the Florida bells and was promptly rejected. The reason? The bells were only offered to nonprofit organizations.

The elementary and secondary school children of South Brevard County collected the required $11,000 and a Bell was brought to Melbourne, FL. Believed to be one of only approximately twenty-five Bicentennial Bells that were actually made, it is not known whether a second Bell was purchased and brought to Florida.

The museum was formerly a concrete ground water storage tank and pump house of the original Melbourne Water Works built in the 1930s. Its one-foot thick concrete walls provide constant temperature and humidity that preserves its artifacts. Honor America Inc. began conversion of the facility into a museum in 1985. It is a memorial to all United States veterans of all wars.

Exhibits

• Authentic full-size replice of the Liberty Bell.
• Freedom Shrine - 28 full-scale photographic reproductions of documents important to our nation's freedom including:
  • Mayflower Compact
  • America's first written Constitution
  • Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence
  • Instrument of Surrender in the Pacific that ended World War Two
• Patriot's Exhibit - includes twelve full size flags of the Revolutionary War period displayed from the museum ceiling.
• Models and artifacts spanning 300 years
• Historic and patriotic reading materials
• Videos and other visual aids
• Much more...

The eabove information is from the museum's website:

Libert Bell Memorial Museum

Map here:
Liberty Bell Memorial - Location

DH and I are considering visiting this place during our 4th of July holiday.

If we do, I'll report back on how it was.