Ring the bell this February 2017
Sign up to ring the bell
Thursdays & Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, February 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location:
727 Scotland St, Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-229-1952
The Freedom Bell had a busy year. Last Feb 2016 it tolled for the first time in Williamsburg’s historic First Baptist Church since segregation. Locals and visitors signed up to ring the bell. It ran off to Washington, D.C. and rang at the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture attended by President Barack Obama on September 24, 2016.
This bell’s story is a long one beginning 240 years ago, when a group of free and enslaved African Americans met secretly under thatched arbors in the woods of Williamsburg to form what is now known as the First Baptist Church. It is believed to be the first black Baptist church started by African Americans, for African Americans.
The bell was created in 1886, when a group of women at the church raised the funds to purchase it. It stopped ringing in the 20th century and remained so for more than 50 years – from the days of segregation until 2016, when the congregation decided to invite the public to ring the bell in celebration of the church’s 240th anniversary. A conservation and repair team led by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s experts analyzed, cleaned and conserved the bell – returning it to working order in time to challenge the entire nation to ring it throughout Black History Month in February. This conservation and repair effort was made possible in part with a grant from the Ford Foundation in New York.
Come out and ring the bell! You can come by yourself, your family or as part of a group but you have to sign up! Sign up here to come and ring this historic bell and proclaim your belief in freedom!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Do you have to have a reservation to ring the bell?
- Yes, please choose a date and time to reserve your place to ring the bell.
- Where do I go to ring the bell?
- Start at Colonial Williamsburg’s Visitor’s Center located at 101 Visitor Center Drive in Williamsburg. There, a shuttle will take you to the First Baptist Church.
- When can I ring the bell?
- Go to the Reservations page to reserve your time to ring the bell. Times are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the month of February. Colonial Williamsburg hotel guests enjoy special access from 9-10 a.m.
- Where is the bell?
- The bell is inside the historic First Baptist Church located at 727 Scotland Street in Williamsburg, VA near Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area.
- What will happen when I get to the church?
- There will be an opportunity to ring the bell, take photos, and sign a guestbook.
- Can I have someone ring the bell for me? Can I ring the bell for someone else?
- Yes. When you register for a time, you will be able to ring the bell either in honor of someone in your life or on behalf of someone who may not be able to make it but would like to ring the bell.
For more information, or to reserve your spot at the rope please visit LetFreedomRingChallenge.org