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Museum conservator uses a handheld laser to remove corrosion from the Liberty Bell replica's metal frame during restoration.

Ringing in America’s 250th:
A Collaborative Treatment of North Carolina’s Liberty Bell

Author(s):
Sarah Beach, Objects Conservator
Liberty Bell replica displayed outdoors on a black steel frame.
The bell at its previous location on Bicentennial Plaza in 2020. Image courtesy of Jennifer French, Objects Conservator

This bell is one of over 50 replicas of the iconic Liberty Bell in Philadelphia that were commissioned by the US Department of the Treasury. These reproductions were part of a 1950 savings bond drive promotion. At the conclusion of the drive, each US state and territory was gifted one of the bells. North Carolina’s bell was stewarded by numerous state agencies before being transferred to the care of the museum in 1982. 

Years of display exposed to the elements took a toll on the bell. The lustrous surface of the bronze bell had developed an uneven green patina, and the black paint on the steel supports had chipped, causing rust. The bell was deinstalled from Bicentennial Plaza in June 2025 ahead of the museum construction project. Its storage offers the perfect opportunity to treat the object. 

Liberty Bell replica wrapped in protective plastic during conservation treatment, mounted on a metal frame.
The first round of chemical paint stripper revealed previous paint layers on the headstock and legs! The bronze bell was wrapped in plastic to protect it during this process. Image courtesy of Jennifer French, Objects Conservator

The old paint was removed with both chemical paint stripper and a new tool in our conservation tool box: laser ablation. The conservation team at the North Carolina Museum of Art generously offered the use of their Nd:YAG Laser for this project. Originally used for dermatological treatments, this laser emits pulses of a single wavelength of light that removes paint while leaving the metal beneath unharmed. The resulting bare metal surface  should provide excellent adhesion to the new protective coating for many years to come. 

Through the treatment process we made some unexpected discoveries! We uncovered several previous paint layers on the robust steel cross piece that directly supports the bell, known as the headstock. The oldest of the paint layers on the headstock is a bright yellow that was likely the primer. On the steel legs, we found evidence of previously horizontal cross braces that stabilized the bell. 

The collections staff at both the NCMOH and the NCMA are excited for the bell to be featured in the July 4th celebrations in downtown Raleigh and hope this project will foster further DNCR conservation collaborations.

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This article was originally published in Circa Magazine, the museum’s biannual publication made possible through the generous support of the North Carolina Museum of History Foundation.