Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial is a monument located in Kaskaskia , Illinois containing the Kaskaskia Bell , also known as " The Liberty Bell of the West , " a gift from King Louis XV of France to the Catholic Church of New France . The 140-pound bell was cast in 1741 in La Rochelle , France . After George Rogers Clark took Kaskaskia from the British on July 4 , 1778 , the bell was rung in celebration . From then on , it was known as the Liberty Bell of the West . The building currently housing the bell was built in 1948 . Recently , an audio program has been added sharing the history of the bell with visitors . The bell was washed away from its stand during both the Flood of 1973 and the Great Flood of 1993 , widening the hairline crack discovered in 1948 . As a result , the bell can no longer be rung , although Independence Day ceremonies are still held . The site is maintained by the Illinois Historic Preservation Division
Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial