What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize? There is no doubt that it is one of the most easily recognized structures in the world. The statue was a gift sent from France in 1886 as a token of camaraderie and friendship.
A Little Bit Late...
The Statue of Liberrty was originally intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1876, but budget problems and other issues delayed the statue's debut. The statue is located on Liberty Island in New York City Harbor, near Ellis Island, the former immigration station through which thousands of immigrants came to start a new life in the United States. As a result, the Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize freedom and liberty.
Statue of Liberty Facts
The Statue of Liberty itself is 151 feet and 1 inch tall from the base to the tip of the torch. The entire structure, including the base and the pedestal upon which she stands, is a whopping 305 feet from the ground. It was the tallest structure in New York when it was built. She was strategically placed, facing southeast at the mouth of the Hudson River, so that she is the visible to ships entering the harbor.
Lady Liberty became a beacon of hope for the thousands of immigrants coming through Ellis Island during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Her official name is "Liberty Enlightens The World," and the torch she proudly holds symbolizes that enlightenment.
The crown she wears on her head has seven points. Those represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world. The broken chains at her feet symbolize freedom from oppression, while the tablet she holds in her left hand is inscribed with "July IV, MDCCLXXVI," (July 4, 1776, the date the Declaration of Independence was signed). The Roman-style robe she wears symbolizes that we are a Republic, as Rome was.
Lady Liberty has two smaller sisters, both made by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, who designed the statue in New York. A small bronze study that Bartholdi used for the final design can be found in the Jardins du Luxembourg in Paris. The official sister statue, which stands at 37 feet and 9 inches in height, can be found on the Ile De Cygnes on the river Seine. This statue faces West, gazing toward the statue in New York, and her tablet is inscribed with both July 4, 1776, and July 14, 1789, the beginning of the French Revolution.
Even today, Lady Liberty stands as a welcoming symbol of Hope, Freedom and Liberty to all who enter the harbor, whether they are new immigrants, visitors or citizens returning home. She represents the ideals of our nation, and enduring icon of the American spirit.
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