In 1976, the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While celebrations and memorials for the Bicentennial occurred all over the country, much of the celebrating was centered in Philadelphia, the "Cradle of Liberty" and our nation's first capitol. The Liberty Bell's image was used as a symbol of the American Bicentennial in a variety of souvenirs, mementos and other merchandise unprecedented by any other patriotic event in the United States' history.