Justice Bell Foundation
Reclaiming Women's History~ Highlighting Women's Contributions~ Promoting Voter Participation.
JUSTICE BELL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2026 STATEWIDE TOUR
Highlighting Pennsylvania Women During America's 250th Anniversary Celebrations
As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, the Justice Bell reminds us that democracy has always required persistence, strategy, and collective action—and that symbols can galvanize people to demand change.
~Amanda Owen, Executive Director Justice Bell Foundation
As Pennsylvania commemorates America's 250th anniversary, the Justice Bell Foundation (JBF) has launched a statewide initiative that highlights a powerful, but largely forgotten, chapter of American history: the story of the Justice Bell and the women who used it to demand the right to vote.
Over a century ago, a group of determined suffragists traveled with a one-ton bronze bell whose clapper was chained and silenced, symbolizing women’s exclusion from the democratic process. The Justice Bell drew enormous crowds, extensive press coverage, and national attention as it rallied support for women's voting rights in the years leading up to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary
The 2026 Tour
The Justice Bell Foundation's 2026 tour retraces the bell’s historic 1915 journey across Pennsylvania, visiting communities along its original route during the height of the women’s suffrage movement. Through film screenings, discussions, and public programs, the Justice Bell Foundation seeks to highlight Pennsylvania women’s leadership in expanding democracy and to connect local communities to their role in that history.
Program: Pennsylvania Women and Their Fight for the Vote
Presented by Amanda Owen, Executive Director of the Justice Bell Foundation and author of The Justice Bell: Tracing the Journey of a Forgotten Symbol. The program includes:
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Screening of Finding Justice: The Untold Story of Women’s Fight for the Vote, a 19-minute documentary
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A facilitated discussion and Q&A on Pennsylvania women’s contributions to the suffrage movement
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A book signing of The Justice Bell: Tracing the Journey of a Forgotten Symbol
About the Film
Part present-day detective story and part a historical account of the movement for voting rights, Finding Justice: The Untold Story of Women's Fight for the Vote tells the story of a band of intrepid women and their one-ton bronze bell that became a celebrated icon of the women's suffrage movement. Finding Justice premiered at the National Women’s History Museum in 2020 and has aired on PBS stations. Learn more about the film.
About the Book
Published by the Justice Bell Foundation, The Justice Bell draws on new research and historical photographs to document how suffragists transformed a bell into a powerful branding tool for voting rights. Once seen by more than a million people, the Justice Bell was a media sensation of its time. Today, it remains one of the rare surviving artifacts of the suffrage era, yet its story is still unfamiliar to many Americans. Learn more about the book.
Host a Program
The Justice Bell Foundation is currently inviting historical societies, museums, libraries, and community organizations along the original 1915 route to host programs during the 2026 tour. Events are family-friendly and can be tailored to suit local audiences and venues. Events are already scheduled in communities across Pennsylvania in 2026, with additional locations to be announced. View upcoming events
For more information about hosting a program contact us at info@justicebell.org
About The Justice Bell Foundation
Founded in 2016, the Justice Bell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing current and future voters. With programs for schools, a documentary about the women’s suffrage movement, and a public art Justice Bell replica, the Foundation highlights women’s contributions to the struggle for voting rights.
History of the Justice Bell
The Justice Bell, a 2,000-pound bronze replica of the Liberty Bell, was a media sensation in the early 20th century and a powerful tool in Pennsylvania’s fight for women’s voting rights. Today, the Justice Bell Foundation shares its story to emphasize its importance in American history, highlight women’s leadership, and inspire civic engagement.