Licking the Liberty Bell

“Licking the Liberty Bell” is a joke from the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, not a Philadelphia tradition. In the season 1 episode “Sweet Taste of Liberty” (2005), two characters travel to Philadelphia to lick the bell. The real bell cannot be touched.

The episode made the phrase a common search, and actor Josh Radnor has joked publicly about fans trying it. In practice the bell sits inside the Liberty Bell Center behind screening, and visitors cannot touch it; security staff are present. The exhibit does have a casting of the inscription that visitors are encouraged to touch. The touching page explains what is allowed, and the Liberty Bell Center page covers the visit itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where does “licking the Liberty Bell” come from?

From How I Met Your Mother, season 1, episode “Sweet Taste of Liberty” (2005), in which two characters go to Philadelphia to lick the bell.

Is licking the Liberty Bell a tradition?

No. It is a sitcom joke. The bell cannot be touched, and security staff are present.

Is there anything at the Liberty Bell visitors can touch?

Yes, a casting of the inscription that visitors are encouraged to touch (NPS). The inscription page gives the text.