LEWISTOWN — Pennsylvania will ring in America’s 250th anniversary next year with giant bells in every county — part of a national effort to celebrate the country’s founding in blowout style.

The Liberty Bell is an icon that embodies America’s fight for independence. With America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon, the state organization that’s charged with coordinating statewide activities, America250PA, has a goal of placing one Liberty Bell in each one of the state’s 67 counties.

That means the Bells Across PA initiative will need to put 67 unique fiberglass Liberty Bells, each showcasing the character of its respective county, throughout the state.

These bells won’t ring, but they can be admired for their one-of-a-kind hand painted designs. Each one of the designs has to be approved by America250PA. Once approved, counties will partner with local artists to paint the three-foot-tall fiberglass bells.

The molded fiberglass bells, mounted on a base, stand nearly four-feet tall.

The design for Mifflin County’s bell, created by Mifflin County High School art teacher Jennifer Hartzler, has been approved by America250PA. Hartzler has painted several of the wild geese sculptures around the county and is looking forward to working on the bell this summer.

The goal is to have the Mifflin County Liberty Bell unveiled sometime during this year’s Goose Day celebration, according to Jenny Barron Landis, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau.

“We didn’t know that it came with a base, but it’s a bonus because we now know where we’ll put next year’s time capsule that our office is hosting,” Landis said.

America250PA allows four sponsors to be highlighted on the plaque that will be installed beside the bell.

Landis has secured three: Mifflin County Commissioners, Mifflin County Historical Society and the Visitors Bureau. She said the fourth sponsor will be the people of Mifflin County.

The Visitors Bureau has started a fundraising campaign for $2,500 to which cover the cost of the fourth sponsorship. A list of donors will be placed inside the time capsule.

Donations can be made using a GoFundMe.com page titled “Support Mifflin County’s Liberty Bell Art Project” or by check or cash at the Visitors Bureau located in the Historic Courthouse, Lewistown.

“The amount we need to raise is one quarter of the cost of the bell,” Landis added, “and we thought that bringing individuals into the project harkens back to how this community funded the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in the middle of Monument Square.”

Westmoreland County’s first bell will be outside the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

All counties that have bells installed by December will be included in a driving trail to be created and promoted by America250PA.

For more information, contact Landis at (717) 248-6713 or jlandis@jrvvisitors.com.