Ringing of the Bells at 2:50 pm

When the Declaration of Independence was announced on July 4, 1776, the bells of Philadelphia, including the 'Liberty Bell' illustrated above, pealed out in celebration.

Today, across the United States bells in every state and thousands of communities will ring out in unison at 2:50 pm, pealing 13 times to honor the 13 original colonies that formed the United States.

In Franklin, the massive bell of the historic Franklin Federated Church will join in the belling ringing under the guiding hand of bell ringer Steve Kinson.

Earlier in the day, at 10 AM on the stage adjacent to the gazebo on Franklin Common, volunteers will be publicly reading the Declaration to add to the commemoration.