Hey Ken:
The truth be told, the Bell is well protected, although you can get within 4 feet of it. First, you pass through a metal detector, all your bags are x-rayed, then you walk through a 200 foot long museum showing related historical documents, videos and items from our history as a country. That glass window behind me is 1 inch thick (I assume) bullet proof glass. The courtyard outside the window is a buffer about 100 ft. deep and stands across from Independence MAll.
I think I wrote about having trouble getting through the security metal detector because I had steel toed sneakers on, showing my Fed ID to the guard made my entry all the easier, I hope the least I would have had to do was remove my shows for inspection - but that wasn't necessary.
But once you finally get through the length of the building, the very last room is the Bell Room, granate and marble and a guard for good measure.
But the amazing thing is the deversity of people I witnessed there in the 10 minutes I stood there filming and looking and imagining all the millions who have seen it and the many priveledged who have touched and rang it. I have been sitting on the video of the Philadelphia Trip and I will try to upload it soon - you'll get to see for yourself the museum, and the path to the Bell. I did have an urge to fling a nickle at it to hear it ring, but restrained myself :shock: That would have gone over great - lol.
P.S. The Bell has a hairlined crack that you never seem to hear about, it runs from the right at the top of the crack for more than 1.5 feet - just something you may never read anywhere else. :)
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