Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is New York’s ever-standing symbol of freedom and democracy. It is a colossal neoclassical sculpture and was a gift from the people of France to celebrate their union’s victory in the American Revolution, dedicated on October 28, 1886. The idea of building this statue came from Edouard de Laboulaye, and Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi took care of its design. France and America also celebrated the abolition of slavery at this time. The statue as a gift, Laboulaye hoped, would inspire people to fight for freedom, because Napoleon III’s monarchy back then was repressive.
Since this day, this symbol has welcomed US immigrants and tourists. The statue’s full name is actually “Liberty Enlightening the World.” The robed female figure is a representation of the Roman goddess of freedom: Libertas. She holds a torch and tablet where the inscribed Roman Numerals of “July 4, 1776” is located—it is the date of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Around 4.5 million people visit this famous statue each year. Also called as “Lady Liberty”, she is 93 meters high, has a 35-foot waistline, and weighs 204 metric tons. Another fun fact: there are 25 windows in her crown—the seven spikes represent the seven oceans as well as the seven world continents to promote the universal concept of liberty. TIPS
Tips:
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Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004
Free
9:30am - 3:30pm (extended hours changes seasonally)
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