20 replica bells designed by local artists will ring in Philadelphia’s semiquincentennial
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia250 (PHL250), a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, today provided a special preview of “Bells Across PA” neighborhood installations, a key program of the City’s semiquincentennial celebrations and part of America250PA’s Bells Across PA program.
As previously announced in September by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Philadelphia’s inclusion in the Bells Across PA program will highlight the histories, cultures, traditions, and heroes of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and corridors. In partnership with Mural Arts, 16 local artists were chosen to paint 20 replica Liberty Bells. Their designs, developed in collaboration with community stakeholders, reflect each neighborhood’s unique identity, cultures, and traditions. Once completed, Philadelphia’s bells will be displayed in 20 neighborhoods where residents and tourists alike can visit throughout 2026.
“As Philadelphia’s own Liberty Bell served as inspiration for this statewide program, it makes sense that Philly would take it to the next level and bring these bells to as many neighborhoods as possible,” stated Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “We are a proud, diverse city of neighborhoods with many stories to tell. All Philadelphians should join me in thanking our community and artists for helping to tell these stories.”
“For residents, visiting the bells will be an opportunity to learn about the history of their neighborhoods, revisit childhood memories, and reconnect with their community members,” said Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director for the City of Philadelphia. “For visitors, it will be an opportunity to delve deeper into Philadelphia’s stellar public arts landscape. Philadelphia has been recognized as the nation’s Best City for Street Art for three consecutive years. It’s no exaggeration to the stay that people come from all over the world to appreciate how our city places art at the center of our everyday life and at the center of our neighborhoods. It’s part of who we are as a city.”
Along with funding from the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia’s Bells Across PA installations are made possible through support from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and The Bellwether District.
“Our goal at Philadelphia250 is to coordinate a semiquincentennial celebration that meets every Philadelphian where they are,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation and Philadelphia250. “The process of planning the neighborhood bells and the other planned activations and celebrations has allowed us to engage at the neighborhood level, giving everyone an opportunity of have a voice. We’re very grateful to PCOM and the Bellwether District for their support in helping make this program possible.”
“For more than 125 years, PCOM has advanced science, medicine, and the well-being of the communities we serve. Bells Across PA reflects that same mission—bringing people together to celebrate the creativity and resilience that make Philadelphia a vibrant place to live and visit. As a leading co-sponsor of this initiative, PCOM is reinforcing our shared commitment to community, collaboration, and progress,” said Jay S. Feldstein, DO, President CEO of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“The Bellwether District is proud to partner with the City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia250 to deliver impactful neighborhood-level investments that uplift and showcase the vibrancy of our communities,” said Roberto E. Perez, CEO of the HRP Group/The Bellwether District. ”In addition to being great public art that tells stories, Bells Across PA program will drive economic activity and inspire civic pride, two goals that we share and support as part of our commitment to Philadelphia.”
While Bells Across PA is a statewide program developed by America250PA, the program is a natural fit for Philadelphia’s existing tradition of community-driven public art, supported by Mural Arts Philadelphia.
“Collaborative, community-driven art is what Mural Arts has been doing for decades. We have a group of experienced local artists who we work with regularly that we were happy to connect with this program,” said Jane Golden, founder and Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “Art has been at the center of so many Philadelphia celebrations through the years, so it’s fitting that it should be a key part of our biggest party of all: the 250th of our country’s founding here in Philadelphia.”
Today, the City and Philadelphia250 are highlighting the following artists and bells for this special preview:
Bell Title: Keeping It In the Family
Neighborhood: Ogontz
Cindy Lozito
Bell Title: Always Open
Neighborhood: South Philadelphia
Parris Stancell
Bell Title: (untitled)
Neighborhood: Parkside
Symone Salib
Bell Title: The Golden Block
Neighborhood: El Centro de Oro
Philadelphia’s Bells Across PA installations are part of the City and Philadelphia250’s plans for Ring It On! One Philly, A United Celebration—a citywide initiative, led Mayor Parker In partnership with PHL250, a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, that puts the city’s neighborhoods at the forefront of America’s 250th anniversary.
“We’ve been very happy with the process. We discussed the imagery that was important for us to see reflected in the design – the residents, the local businesses, and the symbols – and the artist listened,” said Kwaku Boateng, Executive Director of the Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association, whose organization and community worked with artist Akira Gordon. “The finished design reflects the collaborative spirt of the process and of the West Philadelphia community.”Philadelphia Bells Across PA installations will be placed in the following neighborhoods:
- Chinatown
- City Hall
- El Centro de Oro
- Fox Chase
- Germantown
- Hunting Park
- Logan Square
- Mayfair
- Mt. Airy
- Ogontz
- Olney
- Parkside
- Point Breeze
- Roxborough
- South Philadelphia
- Southwest
- Torresdale
- University City
- West Philadelphia
- Wynnefield
In addition to the bells listed above, there will be additional Liberty Bell replicas in Philadelphia that are part of America250PA’s Bells Across PA program. These bells are in partnership with the following organizations: Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Visit Philadelphia.
<>About Philadelphia250
Philadelphia250, a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, is the City of Philadelphia’s key implementation partner for 2026. It is designed to uplift civic pride and showcase the vibrancy of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, cultures, and small businesses by engaging and providing meaningful ways for residents and visitors to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
About the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation
The Philadelphia Visitor Center connects visitors to memorable, authentic, and fun Philly experiences at its four visitor center locations: 6th and Market, City Hall, LOVE Park, and the Parkway. It facilitates the operation of the Independence Visitor Center, the primary point of orientation for Independence National Historical Park and the official visitor center of the Philadelphia region, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. PVC also operates the LOVE Park Visitor Center, Parkway Visitor Center, City Hall Visitor Center, and Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop transit service, as well as the private event space, The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center. For more information, please visit www.phlvisitorcenter.com.