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Virtual
Visit
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Introduction
The most important project of Honor America Inc., the Liberty Bell
Memorial Museum represents over 300 years of United States history
and inspires pride in America's achievements and cultural heritage.
Its focus is a full-size replica of the original Liberty Bell.
Cast by none other than the Whitechapel Foundry in London, England
- the makers of the original bell - this authentic recreation is believed
to be one of only twenty-five known to exist in the world. Visitors
can tap the Bell with a rubber mallet and hear the ring of freedom!
Other
features include artifacts and memorabilia from all American wars,
model warships and airplanes, weapons, clothing, a gallery of US
flags, full-size photographic reproductions of important documents,
local history and much more. The museum's large and evolving inventory
is continuously rotated, so you may visit often. Come see your
history at the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum.
Free
admission.
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The
building
The museum
was formerly a concrete ground water storage tank and pump house of
the original Melbourne Water Works built in the 1930s. Its one-foot
thick concrete walls provide constant temperature and humidity that
preserves its artifacts. Honor America Inc. began conversion of the
facility into a museum in 1985. It is a memorial to all United States
veterans of all wars. |
Exhibits
- Authentic
full-size replice of the Liberty Bell.
- Freedom
Shrine - 28 full-scale photographic reproductions of documents
important to our nation's freedom including:
- Mayflower
Compact
- America's
first written Constitution
- Thomas
Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence
- Instrument
of Surrender in the Pacific that ended World War Two
- Patriot's
Exhibit - includes twelve full size flags of the Revolutionary
War period displayed from the museum ceiling.
- Models
and artifacts spanning 300 years
- Historic
and patriotic reading materials
- Videos
and other visual aids
- Much
more...
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Tour
Information
 A
visit to the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum can be a moving experience
for people of all ages and an educational adventure for school children.
A hands-on experience is provided where guests are invited to see,
touch and hear about our unique history. Many schools in the area
use the museum as an enrichment to classroom instruction. Tours tailored
by the age group are available free
of charge.
The
air-conditioned museum is fully accessible to the handicapped,
and ample free parking is
provided on both sides of the Plaza of Flags immediately in
front of the museum.
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Special
Activities
Loyalty
Day on May 1st and
impressive ceremony is set for Flag Day June 14th in the Plaza of
Flags just outside of the Museum.
For
more information call, (321)727-1776
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Our
Replica Bell
Its
History 
The story
of how we came to own our Bell is as interesting as it is improbable.
In
1971, a program commemorating our nation's Bicentennial Celebration
was chartered to create up to 100 full-size uncracked replicas
of the original Liberty Bell. Created by none other than London
England's Whitechapel Foundry - the very same that cast the
original bell in 1752 - the bells were authentic in every detail.
Only
two bells were offered to each state. Disney was the first to
submit a request for one of the Florida bells and was promptly
rejected. The reason? The bells were only offered to nonprofit
organizations.
The
elementary and secondary school children of South Brevard County
collected the required $11,000 and a Bell was brought to Melbourne,
FL. Believed to be one of only approximately twenty-five Bicentennial
Bells that were actually made, it is not known whether a second
Bell was purchased and brought to Florida. Ironically, our Bell
is just a short drive from Disney, as Melbourne is Walt Disney
World's closest maritime neighbor.
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The history it represents
Although
not widely known, the "real" Liberty Bell is actually the grandson
of the original 1752 Whitechapel Bell. Shortly after this bell arrived
in Philadelphia, it cracked during testing.
Local workmen John Pass and John Stow melted it down and cast a new
bell. However, this second-generation bell produced an unpleasant
tone. In June 1753, Pass and Stow tried again, melting down the second
bell to produce the third and final bell that later became known as
the Liberty Bell (see Liberty Bell
timeline).
Our
bell is authentic uncracked replica of the 1752 Whitechapel bell
- the precursor to one of America's greatest icons and an enduring
symbol of freedom.
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Where
are the other bells?
The first
bell was consigned to the Smithsonian Institute for display in their
"Symbols of America" exhibit. Another was delivered to Johnson
City, Tennessee as the focal point in their "Liberty Bell Cultural
and Education Center". Pittsburg planned to install a Bicentenial
bell in their "Flag Plaza" and Philadelphia installed one
in a special "Liberty Bell Memorial Plaza". A Bakersfield
California group - known as the Liberty Bell Foundation - placed a
deposit on a bell, but it is not known whether they were successful
in raising funds for the remainer of the cost.
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