The Statue of Liberty is one of the reigning symbols of the United States. Sent as a gift from France in the late 1800s, the statue is meant to symbolize the bonds of friendship between the two nations, which fought together against the British in the American Revolution. Funded mostly by the public in each country, the Americans built the base while the French built the statue. The two parts came together on Liberty Island in New York City in 1886.
The idea to build the Statue of Liberty as a gift to the United States originated during a discussion at a dinner party in France in 1865 at which French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi served as the honored guest. Once the support of the French government was secured, a completion date was assigned for 1876, set so as to celebrate America's centennial of independence. Bartholdi and engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel were the chief designers. The statue was paid for by donations from both the American and the French publics and was built in France and then shipped in pieces to the United States, where it was assembled. It was completed in April 1886,10 years after the initial goal.
The Statue of Liberty, together with its pedestal towers over Liberty Island, stands 300 feet tall. The statue's index finger alone is eight feet long. When completed in Paris, the statue was shipped to the United States in 350 separate pieces. The pedestal alone weights 27,000 tons. Visitors can climb 354 steps from the ground to the crown.
The statue consists of a sculpture of a female figure, nicknamed "Lady Liberty," who holds a tablet in her left hand, which reads "July 4, 1776" in Roman numerals. She is lifting a torch toward the sky, which represents enlightenment. Her crown has 25 windows, which represent the earth's minerals. Also on the crown are seven crests, which represent the seven continents and seas of the world. Lady Liberty is clothed in a Roman toga. Her feet are standing atop chains, which symbolizes the abolition of slavery.
The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island (formally Bedloe's Island) on the East River in New York City. The island is now a U.S. state park. Ferries from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan transport visitors to and from Liberty Island.
The Statue of Liberty is the quintessential symbol of freedom and hope. The millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States through New York during the late 1800s and early 1900s could see the majestic Lady Liberty, who greeted them on arrival in their new home.
