Washington County unveils commemorative bell

Liberty Bell replicas will be on display in all 67 Pa. counties to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.

For the MVI

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency unveiled the Washington County Bells Across PA commemorative bell at a ceremony Friday in the historic LeMoyne House Garden in downtown Washington.

Following the unveiling, the bell was donated to the Washington County Historical Society for permanent public display.

As Pennsylvania prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the Bells Across PA initiative was created to mark this pivotal moment in our shared history through a statewide art series.

Commemorative Liberty Bell sculptures will be placed in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, honoring the unique characteristics and contributions of communities across the commonwealth.

Following a countywide call for artists by the chamber, renowned artist James Sulkowski was selected to create the artwork that transformed Washington County’s bell into a tribute to the county’s rich history, heritage and industry through his trademark style of classical realism.

Local company Printscape, owned by Canonsburg resident John Dziak and Mike Melone of Melone Advertising Group, also of Canonsburg, assisted in digitizing and transferring aspects of Sulkowski’s design to the bell, making the work a true mixed media art project.

MacBracey Corp., based in Washington, will design the permanent base to display the bell. This community partnership reflected the overall theme of the bell project — honoring our past while looking toward the future.

About 100 attendees gathered at the LeMoyne House Garden to witness the unveiling of the Washington County bell, including municipal and state elected officials, representatives from the America250PA organization, and numerous business and tourism leaders from across the county.

“The chamber is proud to sponsor the America250PA Bells Across PA program in Washington County and commemorate this important milestone in our country’s history with this beautiful bell, highlighting Washington County’s contributions to 250 years of American history,” chamber President Jeff Kotula said. “We are always excited to celebrate Washington County’s role in the founding of the United States and share that history with others.

“This bell symbolizes the county’s contributions to the development of our nation by featuring iconic highlights of our heritage and landmarks, representing our past, present and future — all through the eyes of a renowned artist who calls Washington County home. We are proud to honor our citizens and businesses through this artwork.”

“The rich history, heritage, and people of Washington County made the design concept for the bell both challenging and exciting,” Sulkowski added. “I was honored to be chosen to create something so important and momentous for the 250th anniversary of our country.”

Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America-250PA, said Bells Across PA is “our way of inspiring connection through creativity.”

“As we prepare to mark 250 years of the American experiment, this initiative helps Pennsylvanians from every corner of the commonwealth see themselves in that story,” she said. “James Sulkowski’s design reflects the spirit of the Washington County community and reminds us that history is something we all have a hand in creating. Each bell represents a unique collaboration between artists, communities and sponsors. We’re proud to help bring this project to life as part of Pennsylvania’s semiquincentennial legacy.”

America250PA was established by the Pennsylvania legislature and governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present and future.

The America250PA Bells Across PA campaign was created to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.

Learn more about the Chamber’s initiatives at www.WashCoChamber.com or www.VisitWashington-CountyPA.com.