Liberty bell sculpture honoring Washington County’s history unveiled for America 250 PA
In celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial anniversary next year, a replica of the Liberty Bell painted with various scenes depicting the history of Washington County was unveiled as part of the America 250 “Bells Across PA” initiative.
The commemorative sculpture, which was designed and painted by Canonsburg artist James Sulkowski, is one of 108 uniquely-decorated bells that will be placed across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to tout their individual history or connections to the American Revolution.
Washington County’s bell was revealed Friday morning during a special ceremony at the LeMoyne House gardens in Washington that attracted dozens of people to watch the unveiling. The Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency spearheaded the project and commissioned Sulkowski to design the artwork for the bell.
“The rich history, heritage and people of Washington County made the design concept for the bell both challenging and exciting,” Sulkowski said. “I was honored to be chosen to create something so important and momentous for the 250th anniversary of our country.”
Sulkowski said he and a committee have been working on the project since December trying to figure out what should be included in the piece, which gives a nod to Washington County’s history of commerce, agriculture, industry, education and sports, among other things.
A portrait of George Washington with a colonial American flag draped behind him is the centerpiece of the bell, but there are numerous other individual murals that depict the Whiskey Rebellion, manufacturing history and the native people who settled here first.
“It’s a work of art, but it’s also a marker of time,” said Bri Farrand, who is the branding director with America 250 PA and was on hand Friday to help with the unveiling.
Chamber and Tourism Director Jeff Kotula said the bell is being gifted to the Washington County Historical Society to be on permanent display, beginning in the fall. Historical society Director Clay Kilgore added that the bell will soon be placed in the new “American Spirit” room in the museum’s archive building across East Maiden Street from the LeMoyne House as part of the overall exhibit torturing America’s 250th anniversary.
“It’ll take you 20 minutes walking around this bell to notice every detail in it,” Kilgore said.