Statue of Liberty
New York, United States
15.10.2011
The Statue of Liberty - A Symbol of Freedom and Friendship
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in the world. Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it stands tall at 305 feet, including the pedestal, and holds a torch high above its head. This majestic figure has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States and stands as a symbol of freedom, democracy, and friendship.
The idea for the statue was first proposed by French politician and anti-slavery activist, Edouard de Laboulaye, as a gift to the United States in celebration of their centennial of independence. French sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was chosen to design and construct the statue, while renowned engineer, Gustave Eiffel, was responsible for the internal structure. The statue was completed in France in 1884 and was shipped to the United States in 350 individual pieces. It took four months to assemble the statue on its pedestal, which was designed by American architect, Richard Morris Hunt.
The Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony attended by President Grover Cleveland and thousands of spectators. It quickly became a symbol of hope and opportunity for immigrants arriving in New York City by boat. The statue's official name is "Liberty Enlightening the World" and it is often referred to as "Lady Liberty." The seven spikes on her crown represent the seven continents and the torch symbolizes enlightenment and progress.
Today, the Statue of Liberty is not only a symbol of freedom, but it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was recognized in 1984 for its cultural and historical significance, as well as its exceptional design and engineering. The statue has undergone several restorations over the years, including a major renovation in 1986 for its centennial celebration.
Visitors can access the statue by ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The ferry also stops on Ellis Island, where the Immigration Museum is located. Inside the pedestal of the statue, there is a museum that displays the history and construction of the statue, as well as a gift shop. Visitors can also climb the 354 steps to the crown for a breathtaking view of New York City.
The Statue of Liberty remains an important symbol of freedom and friendship, and a must-see for anyone visiting New York City. Its timeless message of hope and opportunity continues to inspire people from all over the world.
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Made in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel framework), this towering monument to liberty was a gift from France on the centenary of American independence. Inaugurated in 1886, the sculpture stands at the entrance to New York Harbour and has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States ever since.
The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World; French: La Liberté éclairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City. The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of France, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
The statue is a figure of a classically draped woman, likely inspired by the Roman goddess of liberty Libertas. In a contrapposto pose, she holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. With her left foot she steps on a broken chain and shackle, commemorating the national abolition of slavery following the American Civil War. After its dedication the statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, being subsequently seen as a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving by sea.
The idea for the statue was conceived in 1865, when the French historian and abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye proposed a monument to commemorate the upcoming centennial of U.S. independence (1876), the perseverance of American democracy and the liberation of the nation's slaves. The Franco-Prussian War delayed progress until 1875, when Laboulaye proposed that the people of France finance the statue and the United States provide the site and build the pedestal. Bartholdi completed the head and the torch-bearing arm before the statue was fully designed, and these pieces were exhibited for publicity at international expositions.
The torch-bearing arm was displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, and in Madison Square Park in Manhattan from 1876 to 1882. Fundraising proved difficult, especially for the Americans, and by 1885 work on the pedestal was threatened by lack of funds. Publisher Joseph Pulitzer, of the New York World, started a drive for donations to finish the project and attracted more than 120,000 contributors, most of whom gave less than a dollar (equivalent to $34 in 2023). The statue was built in France, shipped overseas in crates, and assembled on the completed pedestal on what was then called Bedloe's Island. The statue's completion was marked by New York's first ticker-tape parade and a dedication ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland.
The statue was administered by the United States Lighthouse Board until 1901 and then by the Department of War; since 1933, it has been maintained by the National Park Service as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and is a major tourist attraction. Limited numbers of visitors can access the rim of the pedestal and the interior of the statue's crown from within; public access to the torch has been barred since 1916.
