Statue of Liberty Facts

Brief History of the Statue of Liberty
Standing tall at 152 feet, the Statue of Liberty is arguably the most popular monument in the world. Declared a national monument in 1924, it stands on Liberty Island (Bedloe's Island till 1956) where it was dedicated by American President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.

Liberty Island is situated in Upper New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson river and measures an area of just over 10 acres.

Built by Frenchman, Frederick Auguste Bartholdi, the "Liberty Enlightening the World" was gifted by the French to the Americans to commemorate 100 years of American independence and also as a gift of friendship.

Work on the statue began in France in 1875 and was completed in 1884. The statue had to be dismantled before being shipped to New York in 1885.

Facts about the Statue of Liberty
The original name of the 'Statue of Liberty' is Liberty Enlightening the World.

Besides being called 'Statue of Liberty' it is also fondly known as Lady Liberty.

The height of the statue is 152 feet.

The statue was built from copper sheets mounted onto a steel framework.

"Liberty Enlightening the World" was made using 300 hammered sheets of copper and weighed an astounding 225 tons.

The statue was not green from inception, it turned green due to atmospheric conditions, the main being acidic rainfall.

The statue is of an upright woman dressed in a flowing robe, wearing a 7-point spiked crown.

The 7-point spiked crown is said to represent the seven continents or the seven seas.

Lady Liberty holds a torch high over her head in the right hand, and holds a tablet close to her body in the left hand.

The tablet contains the text "July IV MDCCLXXVI" meaning July 4, 1776, commemorating the independence day of The United States of America.

The exact height of the statue is 151 feet and one inch, but for purpose of convenience we put it down as 151 or 152 feet tall.

The foundation (pedestal and 11-point star foundation) measures a total 154 feet.

The statue underwent massive restoration in 1984 for the rededication held on July 4, 1986.

Each of the 1350 iron bars were replaced by stainless-steel bars because the iron bars were all severely corroded.

The torch that we see today is not the original torch of 1886. This torch was replaced during the 1984-86 restoration because restoration was found unsuitable. The original torch underwent major modifications in 1916. Today this torch is located in the Lady Liberty's lobby museum.

On a plaque located in the museum at the base of the statue are lines from Emma Lazarus' poem 'The New Colossus'. They read - "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Liberty Island is situated closer to New Jersey that to New York (but is a part of New York).

Liberty Island has had a very colorful past, its owners ranging from British, to French, to American individuals. Today the island is owned by the federal government and administered by the National Park Service.

The massive steel structure that holds the 'Statue of Liberty' together was designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Gustave Eiffel is the same person who designed the world famous 'La Tour Eiffel' (Eiffel Tower) of Paris.

The base of the pedestal is a 11-point star.

Statue of Liberty stamps that have been minted were: 15 cent stamp issued on November 11, 1922; 3 cent stamp issued on June 24, 1954; 8 cent stamp issued on April 9, 1954; and 11 cent stamp issued on June 11, 1961.

The New York quarter minted in 2001 has the imprint of Lady Liberty with the words 'Gateway to Freedom' inscribed on it.

Liberty Island was known as Bedloe's Island till 1956.

Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal for 'Lady Liberty'.

He is the same person who designed the Tribune Building and the Lennox Library.

The American Museum of Immigration was inaugurated on the second floor of the pedestal in 1972.

You would have to climb 354 winding steps to get to the top of the statue (closed for general public).

You could also take the elevator that goes up to the crown of the statue (closed for general public).

Liberty island was closed to the public from September 11, 2001 and reopened in December the same year.

The Statue of Liberty reopened for public on August 3, 2004.

Only the museum and 10-storey pedestal are open for public view.

As of now, the interior of the statue remains closed for the public, but a glass separator allows one to see the wonderful framework created by Gustave Eiffel.