This Day in History: , Liberty Bell Tolls to Announce Declaration of Independence.br July 8, 1776.br Adopted four days earlier, br the printed copies of the br Declaration of Independence br were not completed until July 8.br Made of copper and tin, the br 2,000 pound bell rang out br from what is now known as br Independence Hall in Philadelphia.br During the American Revolution, br the bell was hidden in Allentown br and returned with the defeat br of the British in 1781.br The famous Liberty Bell crack br is thought to have occurred as br it tolled during the funeral of br chief justice John Marshall in 1835.br While the bell has not been br rung since 1846, it continues br to be tapped ceremoniously br for important events.br The Liberty Bell is now housed br in a pavilion close to Independence Hall.