Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty
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Name	Statue of Liberty
Caption	The statue on Liberty Island in New York Harbor
Location	Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York, United States
Designer	Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
Material	Copper sheathing, iron framework, granite
Height	305 ft (to torch)
Began	1875
Completed	1884 (in France)
Dedicated	October 28, 1886
Restored	1938, 1984–1986
Architect	Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (initial), Gustave Eiffel (framework)
Owner	United States Government
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	https://www.nps.gov/stli

Statue of Liberty. A colossal neoclassical sculpture situated on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it was a gift from the people of France to the United States. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, its metal framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel, and it was dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue has become an enduring global symbol of freedom and democracy, welcoming millions of immigrants arriving via nearby Ellis Island.

History

The concept for the monument originated from discussions between French intellectual Édouard René de Laboulaye and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in the late 1860s, intended to celebrate the centennial of the American Revolution and the enduring alliance forged during the American Revolutionary War. Fundraising efforts, including public lotteries and donations, were arduous in both France and the United States, with the American pedestal financed largely through a campaign by publisher Joseph Pulitzer in his newspaper, the New York World. Construction of the statue occurred in Paris between 1875 and 1884, before it was disassembled, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the French frigate ''Isère'', and reassembled on the newly built pedestal within the fortifications of Fort Wood. The dedication ceremony was presided over by President Grover Cleveland.

Design and construction

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was inspired by ancient colossal structures like the Colossus of Rhodes and drew upon classical iconography, modeling the statue's face after his mother. The initial internal structure was devised by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who proposed using sand-filled masonry piers. After his death, the project was entrusted to engineer Gustave Eiffel, who designed a revolutionary flexible iron skeleton and puddled iron framework, allowing the copper skin to move independently. The copper sheeting was hammered into shape using the repoussé technique in the workshops of Gaget, Gauthier & Co. in Paris. The pedestal, designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, is constructed of concrete and Stony Creek granite from the Connecticut quarries of the John J. Earley company.

Symbolism and meaning

Formally titled "Liberty Enlightening the World," the statue is a personification of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. The broken shackles and chains at her feet symbolize freedom from oppression and the abolition of slavery, reflecting the ideals of the Union victory in the American Civil War. The tablet she holds is inscribed with "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI," the date of the United States Declaration of Independence. The torch represents enlightenment, while the seven spikes of her crown are said to evoke the seven seas and seven continents, signifying universal liberty. The statue's role was powerfully reinforced during the peak immigration period through Ellis Island, as memorably depicted in Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus."

Physical characteristics

The statue stands 151 feet tall, rising to 305 feet from the ground to the tip of the torch. It is constructed of 62,000 pounds of copper sheeting, approximately 3/32 of an inch thick, over a framework of 250,000 pounds of iron and steel. The green patina, primarily copper(II) carbonate, formed naturally over the first two decades. The pedestal foundation extends 65 feet into the bedrock of Liberty Island. Visitors can ascend 354 steps from the lobby to the crown, which contains 25 windows. The original torch was replaced during the 1980s restoration led by the American Institute of Architects and French metalsmiths from the Société des Fonderies de Saint-Dizier.

Administration and access

The statue and Liberty Island were proclaimed a National Monument in 1924 and are administered by the National Park Service as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, which also includes Ellis Island. Management was transferred from the United States Department of War to the National Park Service in 1933. Access is via ferry from Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Security is overseen by the United States Park Police. Major restoration for its centennial was funded through a public-private partnership led by the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation, headed by Lee Iacocca.

Category:National monuments in New York (state) Category:Statues in New York City Category:French-American culture