Statue of liberty closeup

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the US in 1886, is a global symbol of freedom and democracy located in New York.

About this subject

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the American people to celebrate the centennial of the United States Declaration of Independence. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, its internal iron framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel, who later built the Eiffel Tower. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, on Bedloe's Island, now Liberty Island, at the entrance to New York Harbor. Since 1924, it has been a U.S. National Monument.

The female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. The tablet bears the date "July IV MDCCLXXVI," referencing July 4, 1776, the day of American independence. The crown has seven rays symbolizing the seven continents and seven seas. Standing 46 meters tall (93 meters including the pedestal), the statue is made of copper only 2.4 millimeters thick, supported by a steel framework.

The statue's pedestal houses a museum and offers panoramic views of the harbor. Visitors can climb to the crown via a spiral staircase of 162 steps, but access is limited and requires advance tickets. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the statue was closed to the public, reopening in 2009 with enhanced security. The original torch was replaced in 1984 with a gold-plated replica; the original is on display in the statue's museum.

Culturally, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognized icons in the world. Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus," engraved on a plaque at the pedestal, associates the statue with immigration, featuring the famous lines "Give me your tired, your poor." The statue appears in countless films, television shows, and artworks, and replicas can be found in several cities, including Paris, Las Vegas, and Tokyo. In 1984, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is written on the tablet of the Statue of Liberty?

The tablet in the statue's left hand bears the date "July IV MDCCLXXVI," representing July 4, 1776, the day of the American Declaration of Independence.

How old is the Statue of Liberty?

The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, making it 138 years old as of 2024.

Can you visit the inside of the Statue of Liberty?

Yes, visitors can climb to the crown, but access is limited and requires advance tickets. The climb involves 162 steps up a spiral staircase.