The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World; French: La Liberté éclairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York, in the United States. The copper statue, a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

The Statue of Liberty is a figure of Libertas, a robed Roman liberty goddess. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed in Roman numerals with “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. A broken shackle and chain lie at her feet as she walks forward, commemorating the recent national abolition of slavery. The statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, and a national park tourism destination. It is a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad.

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

The Statue of Liberty’s ingenious construction is a testament to 19th-century engineering prowess. Its copper skin, merely 3/32 of an inch thick, is supported by an internal iron framework designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, famous for the Parisian tower bearing his name. This innovative structure allows the statue to withstand winds of up to 50 miles per hour and temperature fluctuations of 80°F.

SYMBOLIC ELEMENTS

Lady Liberty’s crown features seven spikes, representing the seven seas and seven continents. Her tablet, measuring 23′ 7″ tall and 13′ 7″ wide, bears the date of American Independence in Roman numerals. Interestingly, the broken shackle at her feet, symbolizing freedom from oppression, was not part of the original design but was added later to acknowledge the abolition of slavery.

COPPER PATINA

Originally a shiny copper color, the statue has developed its iconic green patina over time. This natural process, called oxidation, took about 30 years to complete. The layer of verdigris now protecting the copper underneath is only about the thickness of two pennies.

TORCH TRIBULATIONS

The statue’s torch has undergone several modifications since its installation. The original copper flame was replaced with glass panels in 1984 due to water damage. In 2018, the torch was moved to the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, replaced by an exact replica that maintains the statue’s original design intent.

HIDDEN FEATURES

Few visitors realize that inside the statue’s pedestal lies a small museum. It houses the original torch and other historical artifacts. The statue also features a hidden face on Lady Liberty’s crown, only visible from a helicopter – a playful addition by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

While often seen as purely American, the Statue of Liberty represents a joint effort between France and the United States. France was responsible for the statue itself, while the U.S. built the pedestal. This collaboration symbolizes the long-standing friendship between the two nations.