Lincoln welcomed the original Liberty Bell on July 9th, 1915 as it made it's way around the country, stopping in every state. 35 years later, Nebraska recieved it's own replica (number 48) commissioned by the U.S. Treasury. Nebraska's bell is one of 52 replicas made identical to the original at the Paccard Bell Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France. The bells were not just monuments, they were meant to be rung.
They were toured around the US to gather support for a savings bond drive. The replica bell would travel around the state in 6 weeks in an effort to sell over $11 million in savings bonds. After the bond drive sucessfully concluded, the Treasury Department gifted the bells to the states where they would all need to find permanent homes.
Nebraska's bell would have many homes until it found its permanent home at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Antelope Park. In July of 1950, it would land at its first location, the Capitol rotunda floor. In 1976 as a part of the bicentennial celebration, the bell would go on another tour around Nebraska to raise spirits this time. When it returned home, it was unfortunately stored in the Nebraska Army National Guard facilities maintenance office for 28 years. A new plan was forged and in 2005, the Lincoln Cares program would provide funding for the shelter for the bells permanent home in Antelope Park. While the fundraiser was being fulfilled the bell had a short lived life at Haymarket Park for the 2005 Saltdogs season, but was in place in time for Veterans Day 2005. Now it is rung for various events at the Veterans Memorial Garden and admired by many.
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Veterans Garden, Antelope Park, 1650 Memorial Drive
3200 Veterans Memorial Dr., Lincoln 68502 View Map
3200 Veterans Memorial Dr. , Lincoln 68502
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