Idaho’s Liberty Bell sent off for America250 repair
Idaho’s Liberty Bell will be reconditioned and readied for use across the state during the 2026 250th year celebration.
Last week, the America250 in Idaho Ambassadors, legislators, and members of the public joined Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon and Speaker Mike Moyle on the steps of the Capitol to say farewell to the Idaho Liberty Bell.
The bell was removed on this day and prepared for shipping back to the foundry. The essential repair will allow the bell to continue to ring strong — becoming a centerpiece for Idaho’s America250 in Idaho celebrations and ceremonies. When the Bell arrives back in Idaho it will be taken on a tour of the state before it is installed back on the steps of the Capitol Building.
Restoring Idaho’s Liberty Bell renews one of the state’s most recognizable symbols of freedom and unity. It invites civic participation and connects modern Idahoans to the enduring sound of liberty first heard in 1776.
History of the Bell
In 1950, the Paccard Foundry of France was selected by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to cast 55 full-size Liberty Bell replicas for placement at state capitols and U.S. territories as part of a national Summer Savings Bond Drive. Foundry craftsmen carefully measured every feature of the original Liberty Bell to create historically accurate replicas. Today, Paccard’s U.S. operation, Foundry Christoph in Charleston, South Carolina, continues to apply more than two centuries of expertise to the maintenance and restoration of these iconic bells, including the use of specialty trees grown in foundry nurseries to replicate the durability of the original American spruce used in the 1950s.
Idaho’s Liberty Bell replica has undergone two previous replacements of the wooden housing that supports the bell’s yoke, in 2009 and 2018. This project, overseen by the Idaho Historical Society and the Idaho Capitol Commission, includes rigging and lowering the bell from its existing structure, secure crating and shipment to the foundry, and fabrication of a new custom-fitted wooden yoke made of sapele wood with a burnt linseed oil application for long-term weather protection. The upgraded yoke will include a steel top plate to enhance structural strength and protect against water intrusion, reinforced steel plates beneath the yoke, cleaning and treatment of existing bolts and hardware with replacement as needed, new steel anchoring brackets, and final reinstallation of the bell on site. Paccard–Christoph will also provide care and maintenance guidelines to ensure long-term preservation.
The estimated timeline for completion is four to six months. This project supports Idaho’s participation in the national America250 commemoration in 2026 and ensures this iconic symbol remains preserved for future generations.
Key Events - February 1776
Feb 16: Council of War in Cambridge: General Washington met with officers to discuss the army’s strength (approx. 8,797 men fit for duty) and the limited, critical supply of gunpowder, preparing for actions against the British in Boston.
Feb 17-29: Siege of Boston: Henry Knox continued moving captured cannon from Fort Ticonderoga (the “Noble Train of Artillery”) into position, allowing Washington to prepare for the fortification of Dorchester Heights.
Feb 27: Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge (North Carolina): Patriot militia decisively defeated a force of roughly 800-1,000 Scottish Highland Loyalists. This victory, often called the “Lexington and Concord of the South,” effectively ended British royal authority in North Carolina and thwarted a planned British invasion of the Southern colonies.
Feb 27: Privateering Authorization: Congress approved further regulations for privateers to disrupt British shipping.
Colonial Political Shifts: Throughout the month, colonial governments in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia pushed for stronger, independent actions, moving away from reconciliation with Britain.
