Early on September 16, 1810, the bell of the parish church of Dolores, in Guanajuato, called the people together, and the priest Miguel Hidalgo spoke to them. The War of Independence began that morning.
In 1896, under Porfirio Díaz, the bell was moved to Mexico City. According to México Desconocido, it hangs above the main balcony of the Palacio Nacional, and “cada presidente la hace sonar la noche del 15 de septiembre” (every president rings it on the night of September 15).
Sources disagree on who rang it in 1810. México Desconocido says Hidalgo did. Chilango writes that the parish bell ringer, José Galván, rang it while Hidalgo spoke.