Statue of Liberty
Architecture

Facts about Statue of Liberty

We found 20 facts about Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, commonly known as Lady Liberty, is one of the symbols of the United States of America. This neo-classical sculpture was initially intended to hold broken shackles. However, later in work, it was recognized that such symbolism could be controversial, and it was decided to use a torch.

Statue of Liberty
1
The Statue of Liberty measures 93 meters high (including the pedestal) and weighs 229 tons.
2
It is located on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay.
The Statue is a federal property administered by the National Park Service, but territorially it is under the jurisdiction of New York City.
3
The Statue of Liberty is a gift from France to the U.S. for the centennial of the Declaration of Independence.
French lawyer Édouard René Lefèbvre de Laboulaye suggested in 1865, shortly after the Civil War, that the gift of the Statue would celebrate the U.S. drive to establish a democratic state and abolish slavery. In addition, he felt that a joint French-American project would strengthen relations between the two countries. The completion of the monument was planned for 1876. However, due to political and financial problems, construction of the Statue was delayed for almost ten years.
4
The cost of the construction was in the range of $400,000, which is now about $12 million.
Carrying out the construction was made possible by collections conducted in France and the United States.
5
The author of the Statue of Liberty is Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor.
Bartholdi was inspired by Eugene Delacroix's painting, Liberty Leading the People. The face of the Statue of Liberty has the features of Bartholdi's mother and, reportedly, the body of his mistress.
6
Construction of the Statue lasted from 1876 to 1882.
Bartholdi was assisted by architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel, the creator of France's most famous symbol, the Eiffel Tower.
7
The head of the Statue was exhibited at the Third World Exhibition in Paris on June 30, 1878, at the Palais Trocadéro.
Other completed parts of the Statue were exhibited on the Champ de Mars.
8
In 1884, the Statue was presented to the American ambassador, then dismantled and transported by ship to New York in June 1885.
9
The ceremony of dedication was held on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland.
The ceremony was accompanied by the first ticker-tape parade in U.S. history.
10
In her left hand, Lady Liberty holds a plaque bearing the date of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The inscription of July 4, 1776, was written in Roman numerals - July IV, MDCCLXXVI.
11
In the Statue's outstretched right hand is placed a torch, the flame of which is made of 24 karat gold.
The torch represents enlightenment and reveals the path to freedom from darkness. Hence the official name of the monument: La Liberté éclairant le monde, meaning Freedom Enlightening the World.
12
At the feet of Lady Liberty are broken shackles, symbolizing the abolition of slavery in the United States.
13
Lady Liberty's right foot is raised.
The intention was to display that, despite the shackles, liberty is advancing.
14
The Statue of Liberty is covered with copper, which initially made its color dull brown, however, its color changed over time due to atmospheric corrosion.
Atmospheric corrosion of this metal and humid air resulted in the deposition of patina on the Statue's coating. It provides the Statue with its now characteristic color, green.
15
The crown of the Statue is decorated with seven rays.
Unfortunately, the symbolism does not derive from the time of the Statue's creation, as the author did not share it with the public. There are three most popular interpretations of his work:
  • seven seas and seven continents;
  • the seven fundamental liberties of man;
  • the light of freedom spreading throughout the world.
16
There are 25 windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty, symbolizing gemstones.
The following stones are:
  • Alexandrite
  • Amethyst
  • Aquamarine
  • Citrine
  • Diamond
  • Emerald
  • Jade
  • Garnet
  • Lapis lazuli
  • Lemon quartz
  • Moonstone
  • Morganite
  • Onyx
  • Opal
  • Paraiba tourmaline
  • Pearl
  • Peridot
  • Rubellite
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Spinel
  • Tanzanite
  • Topaz
  • Turquoise
  • Zircon
17
About 3.5 to 4 million tourists visit the Statue of Liberty annually.
To get to the crown, you have to climb 354 steps. It is about the height of twenty floors.
18
There is a copy of the Statue in Paris, France, four times smaller than the original and reaching 11.5 meters in height.
It is located near the Eiffel Tower on the Île aux Cygnes on the Seine.
19
The Statue of Liberty's copper plating makes it one of the most lightning-struck structures in New York.
It is estimated that it has been struck by approximately 600 bolts of lightning every year ever since it was assembled.
20
Since 1984, the Statue of Liberty has been listed as a UNESCO National Heritage Site.
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