For decades, the Statue of Liberty has stood as an illuminating symbol of independence and democracy. This colossal structure is a part of the skyline of New York City; it captivates native New Yorkers and arriving immigrants with its allegorical beauty. It is a perfect backdrop for the celebration of the patriotism of Americans in the post-civil war. Like the monument, people find the history of the Statue of liberty quite interesting and fascinating. The book, “Liberty’s Torch: The Great Adventure to Build the Statue of Liberty” talks about the impeccable journey of the statue. In this blog, you will be reading about 10 lesser-known facts about the history of the Statue of Liberty which will blow your mind.
1. Most people recognize the monument as the “Statue of Liberty” however; its full name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”. Officially it was sculpted as “La Liberté éclairant le monde”, picked out from a French poem and it means “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
2. The Statue of Liberty is situated on Liberty Island in New York City in the United States of America. Its height is 151 ft. / 46 m. (statue only); 305 ft. / 93 m. (from ground level). The architecture used copper material for its construction.
3. One of the interesting facts about the history of the Statue of Liberty is that it signifies the friendship between France and America. In 1875, its construction was started by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and his team—including Gustave Eiffel, who was instrumental in building the Eiffel tower in Paris. The French government gifted it to the American government following the American Civil War in 1886.
4. According to the history of the Statue of Liberty, the face of the statue resembles the face of the sculptor’s mother Charlotte. Moreover, the concept is inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas; who is known for freedom, and the Arab woman from Bartholdi. Libertas is depicted as a robed woman and signifies independence not just for individuals but also for society.
5. In 1884, The French government decided to ship the sculpture into pieces. After reaching Bedloe Island which is known as Liberty Island today, the statute was pieced together and placed on a pedestal. It was brought to New York in 350 pieces and its small-scale copies were scattered around Paris today.
6. Lady Liberty used to function as a lighthouse for almost 16 years of her existence. The symbolic lamp of the figure served as a beacon; however, this light source seemed too dim for ships to see from a long distance. US President Theodore Roosevelt passed an order that the Statue of Liberty will not be used as a lighthouse anymore.
7. The history of the Statue of Liberty signifies numerous symbols. The crown of Lady Liberty consists of seven spikes which represent seven continents and seven oceans in the world. She holds a torch in hand which symbolizes enlightenment for the whole world. Her other hand has a book of law on which “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” is written and it is the date of American independence. She is facing in the South-East direction and welcoming the ships of immigrants entering New York City.
8. The Statue of Liberty stands straight on a star-shaped pedestal structure. The pedestal is a part of Fort Wood and was built between 1808-1811 in order to protect New York City from the British invasion. It was used for Army purposes until 1937 however; today the fort is owned by the National Park Service. The construction of the Statue of Liberty was priced around $500,000 which is $10 million today.
9. The Statue of Lady Liberty weighs 225 tons and measures 305 feet. Visitors have to climb 393 steps or 20 stories to the crown of Lady Liberty. There are 25 windows in her crown which provide an unparalleled view of New York and New Jersey. It is difficult to see that crown from the ground. Every year almost 4.5 million people visit the Statue of Liberty.
10. According to the history of the Statue of Liberty, it was renovated in 1984-86 in which the rusted iron pieces of the original statue were replaced with stainless steel substitutes. However, the iconic green color of the statue remained unchanged. Its coating is known as Patina which is the result of copper oxidation. Initially, the sculpture was reddish brown in color, but it changed into green over time.
FAQs:
- Where are the three replicas of the Statues of Liberty?
The replicas of the Statue of Liberty are located on Mackinac Island in Michigan, in the downtown area of New Castle in Pennsylvania, near the Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.
- What is the full poem on the Statue of Liberty?
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” These are the iconic words from “The New Colossus”. It is the poem written by American Emma Lazarus in 1883 which was carved in bronze and mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
- Who owns the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty is not owned by New York, though Liberty Island is situated in New York. The statue and the island are owned by the federal government and maintained by the National Park Service.
The Statue of Liberty is an iconic Universal World Heritage site and it is one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Every year millions of people visit the site that cherishes the ideals of freedom, equality, inspiration, and hope. We hope you enjoyed reading the above-mentioned information in the blog regarding the history of the Statue of Liberty and created value addition to your knowledge regarding the same.
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