BETA
Chapter 1
A fragile package from London
Chapter 2
The backyard metal makeover
Chapter 3
The fatal crack and the failed fix
Chapter 4
From local alarm to global symbol
YOUR GOAL
Master of The real story behind the Liberty Bell's crack
Ch 3 · The fatal crack and the failed fix
nic A second, microscopic crack ruined the repair and silenced the Liberty Bell forever in 1846.
nic The wide slot in the Liberty Bell is actually a deliberate repair attempt, not the original crack.
Fun Fact
The 'crack' is a drill: The famous wide gap in the Liberty Bell was actually carved out by 19th-century repairmen trying to fix a smaller, buzzing crack.
Glossary
stop-drilling (noun)
A mechanical repair method of drilling holes at the ends of a crack to prevent it from spreading. In 1846, metalworkers used this technique on Philadelphia's historic bell, but a new fracture silenced it forever.
A mechanical repair method of drilling holes at the ends of a crack to prevent it from spreading. In 1846, metalworkers used this technique on Philadelphia's historic bell, but a new fracture silenced it forever.
Quiz
Whose birthday celebration in 1846 triggered the final, silencing crack in the Liberty Bell?