The Liberty Bell Center
Where it is and when it opens
The building stands on Independence Mall, with Market Street to the north and Chestnut Street and Independence Hall to the south. The NPS gives the address as 526 Market Street. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and security screening closes shortly before closing time; the Liberty Bell Center page on nps.gov has the current hours. The nearest SEPTA station is 5th Street/Independence Hall on the L, the Market-Frankford Line; septa.org has service details.
Security and prohibited items
The entrance works like a small airport checkpoint. According to the NPS, all visitors and their belongings are screened by x-ray or visual inspection, and visitors walk through metal detectors. The NPS prohibits firearms, knives, explosives and other weapons, and it does not allow open containers of food or drink. Packing light can make the check quicker.
The line forms outside, in an uncovered area. Visit Philadelphia suggests an umbrella if rain is forecast and notes that lines can be long in peak seasons. The wait times page covers what to expect.
What is inside
The NPS describes self-guided exhibits along the hallway that cover the bell’s history "through its use by abolitionists and civil rights advocates". There is a video with open captions and audio description, and assistive listening devices are available. Written information is offered in "a dozen languages", per the NPS.
At the end of the hallway is the bell itself, hanging from its yoke. Visitors cannot touch it, but the exhibit has a casting of the inscription that visitors are encouraged to touch, according to the NPS and Visit Philadelphia. The glass walls frame the bell with Independence Hall behind it, as Visit Philadelphia describes it. The inscription page explains the lettering on the casting.
The NPS lists a visit at 15 to 55 minutes, not counting the wait. Visitors exit at the south end of the building, near Chestnut Street, which puts Independence Hall straight across the road.
Accessibility, restrooms and pets
- Wheelchair access. The NPS lists the Liberty Bell Center as wheelchair accessible.
- Restrooms. There are no restrooms inside, according to the NPS. The nearest are at the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets, open daily 9 am to 6 pm with the NPS desk closing at 5 pm.
- Pets. Pets are not allowed inside, except assistance dogs (NPS).
- Accessible media. Open-captioned, audio-described video and assistive listening devices, per the NPS.
Seeing the bell from outside
The bell can be seen through large windows on Chestnut Street at any time of day or night. Visit Philadelphia also describes a side alcove on the building’s east side "where the Bell is visible through a window, perfect for taking a Bell-fie". The no-wait view page has the details.
Adding a guide
A guide is optional. For visitors who want one, the Revolution and Founders History Tour lists a 2-hour walk with a historian that meets outside the Market Street doors of the Independence Visitor Center, and its listing includes Independence Hall timed tickets. The listing says it will "See the Liberty Bell" and does not say whether it enters the Liberty Bell Center.
Using the restrooms at the Independence Visitor Center before joining the line saves leaving it, since the Liberty Bell Center has none inside.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Liberty Bell Center?
At 526 Market Street on Independence Mall, Philadelphia, facing Independence Hall across Chestnut Street. The nearest SEPTA station is 5th Street/Independence Hall on the L.
Are there restrooms in the Liberty Bell Center?
No, according to the NPS. The nearest restrooms are at the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets.
Can you bring a bag into the Liberty Bell Center?
Bags are screened with everyone else’s belongings. The NPS prohibits weapons and open containers of food or drink.
How long does a visit take?
The NPS lists 15 to 55 minutes inside, plus a variable wait. See the wait times page.