Statue of Liberty
A colossal copper monument dominating Manhattan Bay, the Statue of Liberty stands as an enduring symbol of freedom and American independence, recognizable across the globe.
At a glance
Rising 93 meters above Liberty Island in New York Harbor, this iconic sculpture depicts a robed woman holding a torch aloft, visible from up to 40 kilometers away. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with structural engineering by Gustave Eiffel, the statue represents the eternal flame of liberty.
History
Inaugurated in 1886, the Statue of Liberty emerged from a French-American partnership celebrating the centennial of American independence. Gustave Eiffel designed the internal steel framework, while the exterior consists of 300 shaped copper sheets riveted together. The monument rests on a gray-pink granite base originally thought to originate from Sardinia’s La Maddalena island; recent research has traced the stone to a Connecticut quarry at Stony Creek.
What you see
The figure wears a long toga and crowns her head with a seven-pointed corona, each point representing one of the seven seas and continents. Her right hand clasps a torch symbolizing the eternal fire of freedom. In her left hand rests a tablet inscribed with July 4, 1776—the date of American Independence. Broken chains at her feet commemorate liberation from despotic rule.
Cultural significance
The Statue of Liberty stands as one of the world’s most important and widely recognized monuments. For generations, it has symbolized hope and freedom to immigrants arriving by sea, becoming an indelible emblem of American identity and democratic ideals.
Key facts
- Address: Liberty Island, New York 10004, United States
- Coordinates: 40.689196824117964, -74.04458999633789
- Height: 93 meters including base
- Completed: 1886
- Sculptor: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
- Structural engineer: Gustave Eiffel
- Official website: https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
- Phone: +1 212-363-3200
Practical information
The statue is managed by the National Park Service. Visitors can access the monument via ferry service from Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Opening hours and admission fees should be confirmed on the official National Park Service website before planning your visit.
Getting there
Liberty Island is located at the entrance to New York Harbor on the Hudson River in Manhattan Bay. Ferry service operates from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan; this is the primary means of public access to the island and the statue.
Sources & resources
- National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
- Cultural Heritage Online: https://culturalheritageonline.com
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