Just thought I'd give the Photoshack option (don't forget we NOW have COMPLETE IMAGE HOSTING where you can easily upload any image from your computer to share with other members - see the tutoral at http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6691.0 if you have any questions.)
Here I am at a recent trip to Philadelphia. not the greatest shot, but my wife took the pic from my camera in the movie mode, not the hi-res camera mode. Anyways, here goes :)
(http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1927/meebellfi2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Nice pic John. For some reason I thought the bell would have been in an enclosure somewhere less accesible.Good to see you can get so close to a famous piece of our history.
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pass through a metal detector, all your bags are x-rayed, then you walk through a 200 foot long museum showing related historical documents, videos and items from our history as a country.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. :)
(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/294/imga0192uo2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6929/imga0188ps6.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8887/imga0196kv7.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
(http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8009/imga0197nm2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
[NOTE TO MEMBERS] These photos were all uploaded by our simple and powerful Imageshack photo storage system - everyone can post their photos straight from their hard-drive using this simple system, no need to go through complicated account activation, ads or other hastles - SHARE YOUR IMAGES WITH US, PLEASE. That is what makes out International Forum So Special.