Rose City Books is proud to present this piece of Americana. It's a classic reprint of an official commemorative book that was created to celebrate the trip of the Liberty Bell to the world's fair at San Francisco, California, in 1915. And it provides some history of the city of Philadelphia (as the main point).

Each year, more than two million visitors line up near Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and wait to gaze upon a flawed mass of metal forged more than two and a half centuries ago. Since its original casting in England in 1751, the Liberty Bell has survived a precarious journey on the road to becoming a symbol of the American identity, and in this masterful work, Gary B. Nash reveals how and why this voiceless bell continues to speak such volumes about our nation.A serious cultural history rooted in detailed research, Nash’s book explores the impetus behind the bell’s creation, as well as its evolutions in meaning through successive generations. With attention to Pennsylvania’s Quaker roots, he analyzes the biblical passage from Leviticus that provided the bell’s inscription and the valiant efforts of Philadelphia’s unheralded brass founders who attempted to recast the bell after it cracked upon delivery from London’s venerable Whitechapel Foundry. Nash fills in much-needed context surrounding the bell’s role in announcing the Declaration of Independence and recounts the lesser-known histories of its seven later trips around the nation, when it served as a reminder of America’s indomitable spirit in times of conflict. Drawing upon fascinating primary source documents, Nash’s book continues a remarkable dialogue about a symbol of American patriotism second only in importance to the Stars and Stripes.

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, two of America's most revered symbols of freedom, date back to the British rule of the American colonies. The main structure of Independence Hall was completed in 1732, and the final casting of the Liberty Bell was completed in 1753. Visited by over two million people yearly, these historic icons have been used as backdrops for many political and social demonstrations and speeches. Filled with images from the archives of Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia Department of Records, and collections from around the country, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell illustrates how these two historic relics generate a sense of pride and patriotism set forth by the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.