Answer: San Francisco, CA

From February to December 1915, San Francisco, California, played host to the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. This world’s fair offered many exhibits highlighting then-current industry and inventions; and for a time, it proudly displayed the Liberty Bell.

Though Philadelphia city officials were initially reluctant to fulfill the exposition's request for the bell, a petition for the bell signed by thousands of California school children changed their minds. The bell left Philadelphia for its long journey on July 5, 1915 and visited several states before reaching California. The bell was met with plenty of patriotic enthusiasm and was one of the highlights of the exposition.

Pennsylvania senator Boies Penrose accompanied the bell on its way back to Philadelphia in December 1915. On its return trip, the bell again made numerous stops in various cities. Once the Liberty Bell made its way back to city, it was never removed again, and has since remained a permanent fixture among Philadelphia's historic landmarks.

Among HSP's collections are two photo albums documenting the Liberty Bell's 1915 national tour: Liberty Bell Tour photograph album (Bd 68 C129) and a photo album documenting the Liberty Bell's trip from Philadelphia to San Francisco (#3702). Published resources on the history of the bell can be found in our library.