First Ring: Litter Bell

How does a clean environment sound? A lot like the gentle ringing of a perfectly-tuned bell. Join us on a bright and fresh New Year’s Day to hear the first rings of Washington’s newest bell with a remarkable creation story: the Litter Bell.

The Litter Bell will be unveiled at the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, home of the Center for Environmental Justice – a research hub that raises awareness of systemic injustice, crafts community-driven solutions for environmental issues, and encourages others to see their own power in creating a more equitable, healthy, and just environment.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to tour the museum before gathering for brief remarks by leaders from the Smithsonian and the National Bell Festival. Complimentary coffee and cocoa will be available to keep everyone cozy. The bell will then be sounded for the first time in its new installation, inviting all to contemplate on our shared impact on the world around us.

We’re upcycling!

The Litter Bell was commissioned by the National Bell Festival and cast from discarded materials recovered from green spaces and waterways. During a months-long clean-up effort across D.C.-area parks and both the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, volunteers culled man-made debris and then stashed away for us any found bits of bronze, brass, copper, and tin. Our community partners in this endeavor included:

• Anacostia Watershed Society
• Casey Trees
• Community Forklift
• Potomac Conservancy
• Potomac Riverkeeper Network
• Ward 8 Woods

The collected materials were disassembled, sorted, and cleaned by National Bell Festival volunteers before being shipped to The Verdin Company, a six-generation family of bell makers in Cincinnati, Ohio, for melting down. The resultant alloy was poured to form this new bell, turning literal trash into treasure.

Image: A sketch of the proposed Litter Bell installation, with the bell anchored into a boulder.

Know before you go.

• This is an outdoor event. Please bundle-up and dress appropriately for the weather. 
• Notice of Photography: Photography and filming taking place at this event may incidentally capture your image. By accessing our events, guests grant the The National Bell Festival, Inc. permission to utilize their image, appearance, and statements in audio, video, or photographic form without further authorization or compensation.

This event is free with advanced registration and open to all. See also:

• Plans Emerge for the Litter Bell Installation
• The Trash that Made the Litter Bell

Cover image: Entrance to the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum in winter. Courtesy: Smithsonian Institution.