Dear Yahoo!:

Dear Yahoo!:
How did the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia get its crack?
Benjamin

Dear Benjamin:
The Liberty Bell boasts quite a storied past. According to ushistory.org, the original bell was hung in the Statehouse steeple in 1753. It acquired a break on its very first ring.

Though the bell appears mighty, it was thought to be either too brittle or have flaws in its casting. The bell was recast twice in order to strengthen it and enhance the tone. But on George Washington's birthday in 1846, the crack expanded, causing the bell to become unringable. The final zigzag crack measures approximately 1/2 inch wide and 24 1/2 inches long.

But hold the phone -- what fun is history without some controversy? The Liberty Bell Museum throws a bucket of cold water on the 1846 crack story, arguing there are records of the bell being tolled in November of that year. If the bell was unringable in February, exactly how could someone ring it in November? The Museum highlights a total of nine legends of the crack. Read 'em all, pick your favorite, and there's your answer.