Fort Mandan State Historic Site is temporarily closed for maintenance until further notice.
The original Liberty Bell, cast in 1753, hung in the Pennsylvania State House and was rung to summon citizens to hear official announcements. The bell tolled for the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. On July 8, 1776, the bell summoned citizens to hear the recently adopted Declaration of Independence. After the Revolutionary War, the bell was tolled on the Fourth of July and George Washington's birthday. The Liberty Bell cracked while tolling on Washington's Birthday in 1846. The bell was rung in 1944 to signify the landing of Allied Forces at Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe during World War II.
In 1950, a national savings bond drive, using replica Liberty Bells to inspire citizens to contribute to the drive, generated sales of $6.5 billion' of US Saving Bonds to pay for WWII costs. Full-size bronze replica Liberty Bells were gifted to each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Truman Library, and Amnecy, France, where the replicas were cast. North Dakota's bell, #29, toured the state on a Ford flatbed truck as part of this savings bond promotion. From 1952 to 1982, the bell was displayed in the North Dakota Capitol, then at Century High School in Bismarck from 2001 to 2015.
The bell is currently in an offsite storage facility with viewing by appointment only. Please contact the State Historical Society of North Dakota at 701.328.2666 to make an appointment during limited hours between 8:30 a.m–4 p.m., Monday–Friday (except legal holidays).
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
State Museum and Store: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We are closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
State Archives: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F, except state holidays; 2nd Sat. of each month, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 701.328.2091 or archives@nd.gov.
State Historical Society offices: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, except state holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: 701.328.2666
email: history@nd.gov
Social Media:
See all social media accounts
