Dec 11, 2025 - Culture

Philly neighborhoods ring in America's 250th birthday with new bells

Mike D'Onofrio

Three large bell-shaped sculptures painted differently: one orange with black outlines of buildings and a bus; one white with colorful flowers, blue church, and yellow sun; one blue with historical portraits and old house photo. — Here's a sneak peek at some of the bells. Photo courtesy of Frank Luzi/Mural Arts Philadelphia

Chinatown gets a bell! Mt. Airy gets a bell! South Philly gets a bell!

State of play: Twenty city neighborhoods are getting replica Liberty Bells — but local artists are zhuzhing them up.

The "Bells Across PA" program from the city and Philadlephia250 is tied to the celebrations next year for America's 250th birthday.

Zoom in: In partnership with Mural Arts, 16 artists worked on the designs, highlighting histories, heroes and cultures of the neighborhoods they're being placed in.

Some of the designs were revealed this week.

Plus: Neighborhoods getting bells include El Centro de Oro, Fox Chase, West Philly, Germantown, Logan Square, Point Breeze and University City.

See the full list on the city's website.

What's next: The exact locations for each bell will be revealed next month and installation is set for early spring.

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Philly neighborhoods ring in America's 250th birthday with new bells

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