The Statue Of Liberty

The Statue Of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, the enduring symbol of freedom is an icon, representing the United States all around the world.

The statue stands on Liberty Island in New York and overlooks New York Harbor and the city skyline. New York – Boroughs the island in which it stands was previously called Bedloe Island, but its name was changed into Liberty Island.  Liberty Island is federal property within the territory of the State of New York, even though it is closer to New Jersey.

The Statue of Liberty was the first sight of America for US immigrants as they arrived in the United States via New York City by boat, and was constructed before the first wave of immigration to the United States.

The Statue of Liberty was the Symbol of Immigrants in the Late 19th Century, its facts clearly show that the basic meaning behind the great monument is freedom, and, for the millions of statue of liberty facts immigrants that came to the USA in the late 19th century, seeing the Statue of Liberty was actually achieving freedom.

The statue was often the first thing they saw when arriving statue of liberty facts the New York Harbor by boat since the statue faces the southeast direction. It quickly became the official symbol of their hope for a better life.

Statue of Liberty

History

The statue’s full name is Liberty Enlightening the World. The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. She holds a torch and tablet upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) in Roman numerals (July IV, MDCCLXXVI).

The statue was a gift from the French government for the 100th birthday of America’s Independence in 1776 as a celebration of both the union’s victory in the American Revolution and the abolition of slavery.

This statue was designed by a young French artist, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi. The statue’s face was modeled after his mother’s. Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower was also behind the design for Liberty’s ‘spine’; four iron columns supporting a metal framework that holds the copper skin.

Finally, the whole statue was transported to the USA by ship in 350 pieces which all had to be put together again after arrival. Perhaps the biggest problem was the construction of the pedestal. It took the Americans more than six years. So the opening ceremony took place on October 28th, 1886. When the statue was first erected in 1886 it was the tallest iron structure ever built.

The Statue of Liberty is 46,5 meters high and together with the pedestal it reaches 93 meters and weighs 204 metric tonnes. The seven spikes on the crown represent the seven oceans and the seven continents of the world, indicating the universal concept of liberty.

The statue has an iron infrastructure and copper exterior which has turned green due to oxidation. Although it’s a sign of damage, the patina (green coating) also acts as a form of protection from further deterioration.

The statue sustained minor damage in 1916 when German saboteurs set off an explosion during World War One. The torch-bearing arm suffered the most damage, with repair works costing $100,000. The stairs in the torch were then closed to the public for safety reasons, and have remained closed ever since.

The statue’s original torch was replaced in 1984 by a new copper torch covered in 24k gold leaf and the statue was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The staircase of 354 stairs inside the statue to the head from where you have a nice view of New York City, there are 25 windows in the crown, but after the terrorist attacks of September 11, the statue was closed for security reasons, with the pedestal reopening in 2004, and the statue in 2009, but only a limited number of visitors are able to go up to the crown.

Lady Liberty is thought to have been hit by around 600 bolts of lightning every year since she was built. Although the Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite base she stands on, the Statue gets struck many times each year. The Statue’s height and the conductive material she’s made of, copper, make it a structure of choice for lightning strikes.

Liberty Island can only be reached by ferry. With over 5 million visitors a year, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular sights in New York.

The Statue of Liberty Museum

 

Statue of Liberty Museum
A rendering shows the inside of the new, expanded Statue of Liberty Museum. Photo Credit: FXCollaborative

The Statue of Liberty Museum is the most monumental addition to Liberty Island since the Statue herself. The Museum is inspired by the statue of liberty’s history and message of freedom and opportunity it was opened on May 16, 2019.

Inside the museum, which is covered with native meadow grasses, is the immersive theater, which plays an eight- to a 10-minute film that sweeps visitors up through the statue’s interior and tells a brief history of its beginnings and its meanings.

The original torch, which lasted for 100 years before it was replaced in 1986, is located in the “Inspiration Gallery” alongside a model of the statue’s face that you can touch as you enjoy panoramic views of Lady Liberty, lower Manhattan, and New York Harbor.

No visit to the New York City area is complete without a trip to the world’s most famous landmarks – the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum so next time you are in New York don’t miss the magnificent statue.

Suggested Read: Statue of Unity (World’s Tallest Statue)

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.