Description

Essentials about the Statue of Liberty in brief

She is probably the most famous statue in the world and a symbol of New York City, the entire USA and freedom in general: The Statue of Liberty. Inaugurated on October 28, 1886, “Lady Liberty” (as the statue is often affectionately called) is a gift from the French people to the United Statues, delayed by ten years, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York City Harbor, just a few feet off the southern tip of Manhattan. Since 1984, the statue has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its strong symbolism of ideals such as freedom, peace, human rights and democracy.

The architecture and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty

With a figure height of 46.05 meters and a total height (including base) of 92.99 meters, Lady Liberty is an imposing sight and is one of the tallest statues in the world. Due to her robe of thin copper, Lady Liberty is a true lightweight, weighing only 225 tons. Due to the patina that copper takes on over time, the Statue of Liberty today glows green.

The statue depicts the robed figure of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. With her right hand she holds up a gilded torch, and in her left she holds an inscription tablet with the date of the American Declaration of Independence. At her feet lies a broken chain. The individual components of Lady Liberty are full of symbolism. The seven-rayed crown symbolizes the seven seas, and the 25 windows below the crown symbolize the gems of the world. The raised arm with the gilded torch is a sign of enlightenment. And the broken chain is a symbol of the end of slavery.

The history of the Statue of Liberty

The idea of erecting the Statue of Liberty can be traced back to a remark made by French jurist and politician Édouard René de Laboulaye in 1865. During a conversation after a festive dinner at his home near Versailles, the ardent supporter of the Northern states during the War of Secession remarked, “Should a monument be erected in the United States to commemorate their independence, I think it only natural that it should be the result of united forces-a joint work of our two nations.”

Laboulaye’s remark was not intended as a specific proposal, but it inspired sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who was a guest at the banquet. Because of the tense political situation in France, work on the statue did not begin until the early 1870s. Laboulaye proposed in 1875 that the French finance the statue and the Americans the pedestal, as well as provide the building site. Bartholdi suggested Liberty Island, then called Bedloe’s Island, as the site for the installation. The location seemed ideally suited to him, since every ship arriving in New York City had to pass through the small island. Thus, during the great waves of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Statue of Liberty was the first thing most immigrants saw of their new home.

Bartholdi completed the head and the torch arm even before the final appearance of the statue was decided. These parts were presented to the public in advance at exhibitions. Financing initially proved difficult, especially on the American side (for the pedestal), and in 1885 the work was threatened with abandonment due to lack of funds. Renowned newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer eventually organized a successful fundraising campaign to complete the project. The statue was prefabricated in France, transported to New York City in pieces, and reassembled on Liberty Island. On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

Website

nps.gov/stli

Opening hours

Opening hours end May – beginning Sep.:

Admission fees

Adults: $18.50

Seniors (Ages 63+): $14.00

Children (Ages 4 – 12): $9.00

Small children (Ages 3 and under): free

The prices refer to the ferry transfer to Liberty Island. Access to Liberty Island is free. A visit to the Statue of Liberty Crown costs an extra $3.00 and requires a reservation.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Ferry line: Ferries depart from The Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan

By car:

Inaccessible.