HIDDEN TREASURE: THE LIBERTY BELL MUSEUM

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The Liberty Bell Museum in Melbourne, Florida is no ordinary history museum! Honor America Inc. founded the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum and the Plaza of Flags in Wells Park. They used the former concrete ground water storage tank and pump house of the original Melbourne Water Works to house the museum. Since that time the museum has been redesigned and the former water tank is now an impressive Rotunda of American History with an exact un-cracked replica of the Liberty Bell in the center. According to Honor America, Incorporated, in1976, the students of South Brevard County Schools saved their pennies and dimes to purchase the bell. The United States Government commissioned the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, the company that cast the original Liberty Bell in 1752, to make 100 exact replicas. One was given to each of the 50 states to be hung in each capitol city. The remaining bells were to be sold to various museums throughout the country, however not all of the remaining 50 were actually cast. This makes the bell at the Honor America Liberty Bell Museum even more rare and unusual!

Another exciting addition to the museum is their 911 First Responders Exhibit. Not only do they have a piece of iron girder from the rubble of Tower One of the World Trade Center, but the exhibit also boasts a piece of granite from the demolished section of the Pentagon. Uniforms of first responders stand guard over the exhibit.  I looked at the articles and remembered how devastating 911 was for so many of my friends and family in New York, but then one of the museum volunteers reminded me, “It was a global event, not just a New York event.” And she was so right! It was a day that affected people in every corner of the globe. This rare and exceptional exhibit captures those moments in time when the world stood still as part of America died.

Right now, the museum is working on adding key moments and people involved in Women’s Suffrage to the Rotunda Timeline. Information and artifacts on the Civil Rights movement and other issues of interest are constantly being updated and added. A recent “voting” exhibit helps show children and adults how to use the equipment at the polls and allows them to vote just as they would in a real election.

There are many amazing things to see and do at the Museum. Adults, children, families: there’s something for everyone! Parades, patriotic concerts, Flag Day/ Memorial Day/Citizenship Day ceremonies, 4^th of July Parade, Flag retirement ceremonies  and so much more! (And admission is free!)

Honor America Liberty Bell Museum

1601 Oak Street

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321)727-1776

Museum Hours

Tuesday-Friday:  10am-4pm

Saturday:    10am-2pm

DON'T FORGET THE JULY4th PARADE THAT STARTS AT MANATEE PARK (Railroad tracks and Old Melbourne Ave) AND ENDS AT THE LIBERTY BELL MUSEUM!

11AM