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Arguably the most famous sight in the US, the Statue of Liberty has stood watch over the maritime entrance to New York since it was erected in 1886. Made of copper, the 46m figure stands on a huge 47m stone pedestal, ensuring she’s clearly visible to all those arriving to New York by sea.
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Construction
It was given to the US by the people of France to celebrate independence. Shipped to America in crates, the metal framework was made by Gustave Eiffel and the sculpture by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The statue itself isn’t weight-bearing, instead sitting on a supportive frame.
Statue of Liberty
The head and torch bearing arm were finished first and were put on display in the US to help raise money for the rest of the work. While the French paid for the statue itself, the Americans were expected to foot the bill for the pedestal.
As construction took place in the years following the American Civil War, raising the necessary money wasn’t easy and required significant fundraising on the part of the project’s supporters.
Design
Officially called Liberty Enlightening the World, the figure represents the Roman Goddess Libertas, personification of freedom. The crown's seven spikes symbolize the seven continents of the world, demonstrating the inclusive nature of the recently-independent America.
In 1903, The New Colossus, an 1883 poem by Emma Lazarus, was added to the base of the pedestal. Its most famous lines read: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore’.
Statue Of Liberty (2005-07-18) by Margaret Bourke-WhiteLIFE Photo Collection
3.5 million people visit the statue every year by boat from the Battery or Jersey City.
Between 1892 and 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants entered the US through Ellis Island. All of these men, women and children would have sailed past the Statue of Liberty on their way to starting their new lives.
Statue of Liberty in New York bay (1887) by J.S. JohnstonMusée des arts et métiers
Learn more about the Statue of Liberty here.
