New York City, New York - The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty holding her flaming torch is perhaps the most potent symbol of modern-day New York. It towers 305 feet (93 m) above the harbour on Liberty Island and is reached by the ferry, which also takes visitors to Ellis Island Immigration Museum. When the statue was built in 1886, it was the tallest construction in the city.

It's only after you are on your way back from the tour of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, usually done together, that you realize the impact of landing in the United States of America. This is how millions must have felt when they came face to face with the gracious Lady that welcomed ships to New York aharbour.

Conceived by the French politician Edouard Rene Lefebre de Laboulaye and executed by sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the Lady with the Torch took 20 years to reveal herself. Made of naturally oxadised copper to give it its characteristic green coating, her face is said to have been modeled on the sculptor's mother. The torch in her raised hand symbolizes the way to enlightenment; the tablet, the law of the land; the spikes of the crown, the seven seas and continents of the world; and the broken chain around her feet, represents freedom from oppression.

Panoramic views can be had from the observation deck on the 10th floor. The museum can now be visited, though the interior of the monument is closed to the public. A glass ceiling in the museum offers a unique view of the base of the statue. You can also stroll along the promenade above the star-shaped former fort around the foot of Lady Liberty. Stetson-wearing rangers are available for adults and kids tours

The Statue of Liberty
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