250th Anniversary of the U.S. in 2026

The Berks County Liberty Bell hung in the first Berks County Courthouse on Penn’s Commons, at 5th and Penn Street. The bell was rung on July 8th, 1776 to call the people of Reading and Berks County together for the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. 

In conjunction with Berks History Center and America 250 PA, the Berks County Liberty Bell is on display for public viewing in the Berks County Services Center along with a facsimile copy of the Declaration of Independence. This installation is part of a community effort to recognize the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Berks County’s role in our nation’s history. The Semiquincentennial for the nation will be observed on July 4, 2026.