Interesting Facts about the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is the national monument of New Jersey and New York. It is arguably America's greatest symbol of freedom and democracy. It is located on Liberty Island in the New York harbour in New York City. The Statue celebrates the friendship between the United States and France. It is formally known as 'Liberty Enlightening the World.  It was a gift to symbolise America's message of liberty to the world.

The Statue of Liberty is Located in New York City.

History of the Statue of Liberty 

Édouard de Laboulaye, a French historian, proposed the statute in 1865. The French people contributed funds and the work began. The Statue of Liberty was built in France between 1875 and 1884 under the direction of French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The metal framework was designed by Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc and Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. In 1885, the statue was shipped to New York City. American architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal.

The Statue of Liberty was Built in France

Statue of Liberty Facts

The following are some Statue of Liberty facts. 

• The official name of the statue is 'Liberty Enlightening the World'.

• The female figure represents the robed Roman goddess of liberty, Libertas.

• She carries a tablet in her left hand inscribed July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, the date of the U.S Declaration of Independence.

• Lady Liberty holds a torch in her right hand.

• The height of the Statue of Liberty is 93 metres from ground level to the torch.

• The statue weighs 225 tons.

• To reach the crown, visitors have to climb 354 stairs.

• There are seven spikes on her crown and each spike represents the seven oceans and the seven continents of the world.

The Seven Spikes Indicate The Universal Concept of Liberty.

• The crown has 25 windows.

• The statue has an iron infrastructure with a copper exterior. The copper exterior has turned green due to oxidation.

• The statue's original torch was replaced by a new torch covered in 24k gold leaf in 1984.

• Lady Liberty stands among broken shackles and chains, with her right foot raised, symbolizing the country moving forward from slavery and oppression towards a new era.

• The statue served as a lighthouse for 16 years ( 1886 - 1902).

• In 1982, it was discovered that the statue's head was installed 2 feet off centre.

• Lady Liberty has a 35-foot waistline and wears a size 879 shoe.

• The statue has been struck by lightning more than 600 times.

• The statue was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Learning by Doing

Choose the correct answer.

1. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy.

1. True

2. False

2. Where was the Statue of Liberty built?

1. New Jersey

2. New York City 

3. France

4. None of the above.

Solved Questions

1. Who proposed the statue and when?

Ans: The statue was proposed by Édouard de Laboulaye in 1875.

2. Who does the female figure of the Statue of Liberty represent?

Ans: The female figure represents the robed Roman goddess of liberty, Libertas.

Summary

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture. It is often viewed as a symbol of New York City and the United States. Millions of people from all around the world visit the statue every year. The statue has been redesigned several times since its installation.