Hidden within the New Bedford Port Society is a powerful symbol of freedom that also tells a deeply local story.
The original Liberty Bell, designed by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, was commissioned by the state of Pennsylvania. When it first arrived, it famously cracked during testing. Despite this flaw, it went on to become one of the most recognized symbols in the United States, rung to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. That original bell, weighing over 2,000 pounds, now stands at Independence National Historic Park.
Here at the New Bedford Port Society, we are honored to care for a smaller tabletop version of the Liberty Bell, presented to us in 1991.This bell continues to carry deep meaning today. Each Memorial Day, it is brought to the New Bedford waterfront and rung after every name is read in remembrance of the fishermen who left this port and were lost at sea. Visitors are welcome to stop by and see the bell up close. It stands as a quiet but powerful reminder of both national freedom and the sacrifices tied to New Bedford’s maritime history.