Update | 01.06.20 | The Wyoming Liberty Bell was removed at some point during the Capitol’s 4-year, $307.8- million-dollar renovation project, set to be substantially completed by January 31, 2020, and fully completed 90-days thereafter. A December visitor to the Capitol heard the state is looking to raise funds to restore the bell, but I have yet to confirm that information. I’ll post updates as I have them.
Dawn and I finally got to the Wyoming Bell (the closest one to our home) in March od 2014 on our way back from birding in Nebraska. It was a beautiful, quiet Sunday in Cheyenne.
The WY liberty bell was put in storage during their two year renovation/restoration. When we visited on 12/27/19, it was still in storage and we were unable to find out when it would be returned. We did hear they were trying to raise money to restore it. What we are finding is that the “simulated” crack is not being put back on the bells when most are restored.
Thanks for the update, Scott. Last time I saw the bell in March of 2018, it looked like they were prepping to remove it. I’ve reached out to the folks at the Wyoming Capitol Square project and will update the site when I hear back from them. I’d hope they worked bell restoration (Colorado bell restoration was $50k) into the $300-million plus budget, but you never know.
Yeah, you can see the mark on some of these photos where the painted-on crack has worn off. Hawaii went and dremeled a cosmetic crack into their bell, but for the most part, you’re right, cracks are not pained back on in the restoration process. I prefer them without fake cracks, personally.