5 Things You May Not Know About the Statue of Liberty

The statue's name derives from the Goddess it represents; Libertas, a Roman deity personifying freedom. Libertas appears on Roman coins from the period of Julius Caesar's assassination, supporting the Republic. Here, you're free to click and point to approach the statue by water.

The statue's crown bears seven spikes, symbolizing the seven oceans and seven continents of the world, and emphasizing her message of welcome, inclusiveness, and freedom. Can you spot her from here, on nearby Ellis Island, many new Americans' first stop in their new life?

Standing proud, exposed to the elements, the statue has to withstand around 600 lightning bolts every year and, in high winds, the torch can sway by about 5 inches side-to-side! Luckily, it's a clear day as we land here at the ferry terminal and approach.

Edouard de Laboulaye was the man who dreamt the statue up, and sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi designed it, but the integral metal framework was made by the same man who built the Eiffel Tower! You can appreciate their work from here in Flagpole Plaza, or get closer...

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor who designed the statue, is said to have modelled her face after his own mother. No pressure for your next mother's day gift! Point and click to explore Liberty Island and the world-famous Statue of Liberty.