Bells were rung when the Declaration of Independence was read on July 8 , 1776 . While there is no record that the Liberty Bell was rung , most historians believe it was rung with the other bells . Bells were rung to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 , 1776 , and while there is no contemporary account of the Liberty Bell ringing , most historians believe it was one of the bells rung .