Statue of Liberty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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The Statue of Liberty in October 2015
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| Location | Liberty Island New York City |
| Height |
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| Dedicated | October 28, 1886 |
| Restored | 1938, 1984–1986, 2011–2012 |
| Sculptor | Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi |
| Visitors | 3.2 million (in 2009) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, vi |
| Designated | 1984 (8th session) |
| Reference no. | 307 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Designated | October 15, 1924 |
| Designated by | President Calvin Coolidge |
| Official name: The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World | |
| Designated | September 14, 2017 |
| Reference no. | 100000829 |
| Official name: Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island | |
| Designated | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference no. | 1535 |
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Invalid designation
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| Designated | June 23, 1980 |
| Reference no. | 06101.003324 |
The Statue of Liberty, also known as Liberty Enlightening the World, is a huge copper statue located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was a special gift from the people of France to the United States. The famous French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed it. Its metal frame was built by Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower. The statue was officially opened on October 28, 1886.
The statue shows Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She holds a torch high with her right hand. In her left hand, she carries a tablet that says "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI". This is July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals, the date the U.S. declared its independence. At her feet, you can see a broken chain. This symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States after the American Civil War. After it was built, the statue quickly became a powerful symbol of freedom for the U.S. It also became a welcoming sign for immigrants arriving by sea.
The idea for the statue began in 1865. A French historian named Édouard de Laboulaye suggested building a monument. It would celebrate 100 years of U.S. independence and the freedom of enslaved people. The Franco-Prussian War caused delays. But in 1875, Laboulaye proposed that France would pay for the statue. The United States would provide the land and build the base. Bartholdi finished the head and the arm holding the torch first. These parts were shown at big events to get people excited.
The torch-bearing arm was shown in Philadelphia in 1876. It was also displayed in Madison Square Park in Manhattan from 1876 to 1882. Raising money was hard, especially for the Americans. By 1885, work on the base almost stopped due to lack of funds. Joseph Pulitzer, who owned the New York World newspaper, started a fundraising campaign. He encouraged people to donate, even small amounts. More than 120,000 people gave money, most giving less than a dollar. The statue was built in France, shipped in many crates, and put together on what was then called Bedloe's Island. Its completion was celebrated with New York's first ticker-tape parade. President Grover Cleveland led the dedication ceremony.
The statue was first managed by the U.S. Lighthouse Board until 1901. Then the War Department took over. Since 1933, the National Park Service has cared for it. It is now a major tourist spot. Visitors can go inside the base and up to the crown. However, the torch has been closed to the public since 1916.
Contents
Building the Statue of Liberty
The Idea Behind the Statue
The idea for the Statue of Liberty came from Édouard René de Laboulaye. He was a French historian and a strong supporter of ending slavery. In 1865, he talked with sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi. Laboulaye suggested that if a monument were built to celebrate American independence, it should be a joint effort between France and the U.S.
The National Park Service says this story might be a legend. They suggest the statue was likely thought of around 1870. Laboulaye wanted to honor the U.S. victory in the Civil War and the end of slavery. He hoped this gift would inspire the French people to seek their own democracy.
Bartholdi was inspired by Laboulaye's idea. But France was under the rule of Napoleon III, so Bartholdi waited. He was also busy with other projects. In the 1860s, he proposed a huge lighthouse for the Suez Canal in Egypt. It would be a female figure holding a torch. This idea was similar to the ancient Colossus of Rhodes, a giant statue that guided ships. But the Egyptian ruler said it was too expensive.
The Franco-Prussian War further delayed the project. After the war, France became a more liberal republic. Bartholdi and Laboulaye decided it was the right time to talk to important Americans. In 1871, Bartholdi traveled to the United States.
When he arrived in New York Harbor, Bartholdi saw Bedloe's Island. He thought it was the perfect spot for the statue. Ships entering New York would have to sail right past it. He was happy to learn the U.S. government owned the island. President Ulysses S. Grant assured him that getting the site would not be hard. Bartholdi met many Americans who supported the project. But they decided to wait before starting a big public campaign.
Bartholdi made his first model of the statue in 1870. He continued to work on the design after returning to France. He also created other sculptures to boost French patriotism. One was the Lion of Belfort, a large stone lion. It showed a strong, emotional style that Bartholdi would use for the Statue of Liberty.
Symbolism and Design Choices
Bartholdi and Laboulaye wanted to show American liberty. In early American history, two female figures symbolized the nation. One was Columbia, representing the U.S. The other was Liberty, based on the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. Liberty figures were common on American coins and in art.
The statue's design was inspired by ancient figures. These included the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Roman Columbia. Artists often used Libertas to represent republican ideals. Bartholdi and Laboulaye wanted a peaceful image of liberty. They avoided the violent look of some revolutionary art. Bartholdi's statue is fully dressed in flowing robes. She holds a torch, which stands for progress and enlightenment.
Another statue, Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford, sits atop the U.S. Capitol. It was originally meant to wear a cap given to freed slaves. But this was changed to a helmet. Bartholdi considered a similar cap for his statue. Instead, he chose a crown with seven rays. These rays symbolize the sun, the seven seas, and the seven continents. They show how Liberty enlightens the whole world.
Bartholdi's early models were similar. They showed a female figure in a classical style. She wore a gown and cloak and held a torch. The statue's face is often said to be modeled after Bartholdi's mother, but this is not confirmed. He designed the statue with simple, strong lines. This would make it stand out in the harbor. He wanted it to look grand and meaningful.
Bartholdi changed the design as he worked. He first thought about having Liberty hold a broken chain. But he decided this might cause too much disagreement after the Civil War. So, the statue now steps over a broken chain, hidden by her robes. For Liberty's left hand, Bartholdi chose a tablet. On it, he wrote "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI," linking the date of U.S. independence with liberty.
Bartholdi asked his friend, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, for help. Viollet-le-Duc designed a brick pillar inside the statue to hold the copper skin. He chose copper sheets for the skin. They would be shaped using a method called repoussé. This involved heating the sheets and hitting them with wooden hammers. This made the statue light for its size, as the copper was only about 0.094 inches thick. Bartholdi wanted the statue to be over 151 feet tall.
Getting Started and Raising Money
By 1875, France was more stable after the war. Laboulaye decided it was time to ask for public support. In September 1875, he announced the project. He formed the Franco-American Union to raise money. The statue was named Liberty Enlightening the World. The French would pay for the statue, and Americans would pay for the base. Many French people supported the idea. Schoolchildren and ordinary citizens gave money.
Bartholdi started building the right arm and head even before the final plans were ready. In May 1876, he brought the arm to the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. It was a big hit, and visitors could even climb up to the torch's balcony. After the exhibition, the arm was moved to Madison Square Park in New York City. It stayed there for several years before going back to France.
Bartholdi encouraged Americans to form their own fundraising groups. Committees were set up in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. The New York group took on most of the fundraising. One of its members was 19-year-old Theodore Roosevelt, who later became president. In 1877, President Ulysses S. Grant approved accepting the statue. President Rutherford B. Hayes then chose Bedloe's Island as the site.
Building the Statue in France
Back in Paris in 1877, Bartholdi finished the head. It was shown at the 1878 Paris World's Fair. People could buy models of the statue to help raise money. They could also buy tickets to watch the construction. By 1879, about 250,000 francs had been raised.
Viollet-le-Duc, the first engineer, became ill and died in 1879. He had not left plans for how to connect the copper skin to his brick pillar. The next year, Bartholdi hired Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel and his engineer, Maurice Koechlin, decided to use an iron truss tower instead of a brick pillar. Eiffel made the structure flexible. This allowed the statue to sway slightly in the wind and expand in the heat. This prevented the copper skin from cracking.
Eiffel's design was like a "curtain wall" building. The outside skin does not hold the weight. Instead, an inner frame supports it. Eiffel also added two spiral staircases inside. These would help visitors reach the crown. The parts of the iron tower were built in Eiffel's factory near Paris.
Bartholdi changed his plans for assembly. He decided to build the entire statue in France. Then, it would be taken apart and shipped to the U.S. for reassembly. The first rivet was placed by the U.S. Ambassador to France, Levi P. Morton. This was a symbolic act. By 1882, the statue was built up to the waist. The completed statue was officially given to Ambassador Morton in Paris on July 4, 1884. France also agreed to pay for its transport to New York. The statue stayed in Paris until the base in the U.S. was ready. In January 1885, it was taken apart and packed for its ocean journey.
Building the Pedestal in the U.S.
Raising money for the pedestal in the U.S. was very difficult. An economic downturn in the 1870s made it hard to get funds. Some people criticized the statue. They felt Americans should design American public works. Harper's Weekly wished France had paid for the whole thing. The New York Times said it was too much money for "bronze females." Because of these issues, the American committees did little for several years.
Pedestal Design
The statue's base was to be built inside Fort Wood. This was an old army base on Bedloe's Island. The fort was shaped like an eleven-point star. The statue and its base were positioned to face southeast. This way, it would greet ships coming into the harbor. In 1881, Richard Morris Hunt was hired to design the pedestal. He planned a 114-foot-tall pedestal. But due to money problems, it was reduced to 89 feet.
Hunt's design used classical styles. It was a pyramid shape, wide at the bottom and narrower at the top. The four sides looked the same. Bartholdi planned an observation platform near the top of the pedestal. The pedestal was made of thick concrete walls, covered with granite blocks. This was the largest concrete structure poured at that time.
Raising Money for the Pedestal
Fundraising for the pedestal began in 1882. Many events were held to collect money. Poet Emma Lazarus was asked to write a poem. She first said no, but then thought of the refugees she was helping. These refugees had fled violence in Eastern Europe. She saw a way to connect their struggles to the statue. Her poem, "The New Colossus", includes the famous lines: "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." This poem is now strongly linked to the Statue of Liberty. It is written on a plaque inside the museum.
Even with these efforts, money was still short. New York's governor, Grover Cleveland, refused to give state money. A request for federal money also failed. The New York committee stopped work on the pedestal. Other cities offered to pay if the statue was moved to their city.
Then, Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World newspaper, started a new fundraising drive. He promised to print the name of every person who donated, no matter how small the amount. This idea excited New Yorkers. Pulitzer published notes from donors. A young girl sent 60 cents she saved. An office boy gave five cents. Children sent money they saved for the circus. Donations poured in, and work on the pedestal started again. France raised about $250,000 for the statue. The U.S. had to raise up to $300,000 for the pedestal.
Putting it All Together
On June 17, 1885, the French ship Isère arrived in New York. It carried the crates holding the disassembled statue. Two hundred thousand people lined the docks to welcome the ship. By August 11, 1885, the World announced that $102,000 had been raised. Most of this came from small donations.
The pedestal was finished in April 1886. Then, the statue was put back together. Eiffel's iron frame was anchored to steel beams in the concrete pedestal. Workers carefully attached the copper sections. Because the pedestal was so wide, scaffolding could not be used. Workers hung from ropes to install the copper skin. Bartholdi wanted to put floodlights on the torch. But the Army Corps of Engineers said no. They worried the lights would blind ships' pilots. Instead, Bartholdi cut small windows in the torch and put lights inside. A power plant was built on the island to light the torch.
The copper skin began to change color soon after assembly. It turned dark brown, then green. This green color, called patina, is caused by the copper reacting with air. It actually protects the statue.
The Dedication Ceremony
The dedication ceremony was held on October 28, 1886. President Grover Cleveland led the event. A huge parade took place in New York City that morning. Hundreds of thousands of people watched. The parade started at Madison Square Park and ended at the Battery. As the parade passed the New York Stock Exchange, traders threw ticker tape from windows. This started the tradition of ticker-tape parades.
President Cleveland then went by yacht to Bedloe's Island. Ferdinand de Lesseps spoke first for the French committee. Then, Senator William M. Evarts spoke for the New York committee. A French flag covered the statue's face. It was supposed to be lowered at the end of Evarts's speech. But Bartholdi thought the speech was over and lowered the flag too early. Cheers erupted, ending Evarts's speech. President Cleveland then spoke. He said the statue's "stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man's oppression until Liberty enlightens the world." Bartholdi was asked to speak but declined.
Only important guests were allowed on the island. No members of the public could attend. Only Bartholdi's wife and Lesseps's granddaughter were among the few women allowed. Officials said they feared women might get hurt in the crowd. This upset suffragists. They rented a boat and got as close as they could. Their leaders gave speeches, praising Liberty as a woman and asking for women's right to vote.
After the Dedication
Early Years and Symbolism
When the torch was first lit, it gave off only a faint glow. It was hard to see from Manhattan. Bartholdi suggested covering the statue in gold, but it was too costly. The U.S. Lighthouse Board took over in 1887. They tried to make the torch brighter, but it remained hard to see at night. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt transferred the statue to the War Department. It was not very useful as a lighthouse.
Many immigrants came to the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many entered through New York. They saw the statue not just as a symbol of enlightenment, but as a sign of welcome. This feeling grew stronger when an immigrant processing station opened on nearby Ellis Island. This idea matched Emma Lazarus's poem, which called the statue "Mother of Exiles." In 1903, her poem was engraved on a plaque at the statue's base.
Immigrants often shared their excitement about seeing the statue. One immigrant from Greece remembered: "I saw the Statue of Liberty. And I said to myself, 'Lady, you're such a beautiful! You opened your arms and you get all the foreigners here. Give me a chance to prove that I am worth it, to do something, to be someone in America.'"
The statue quickly became a famous landmark. It was originally a dull copper color. But after 1900, a green patina began to spread. This green color is caused by the copper reacting with the air. By 1906, the statue was entirely green. Some thought it was corrosion. Congress approved money for repairs and to paint the statue. But the public protested painting the outside. The Army Corps of Engineers found that the patina actually protected the copper. So, only the inside was painted. An elevator was also installed to take visitors to the top of the pedestal.
On July 30, 1916, during World War I, German saboteurs caused a huge explosion. It happened on Black Tom peninsula, near Bedloe's Island. The statue suffered minor damage, mostly to its torch-bearing arm. It was closed for ten days. The cost to repair it was about $100,000. The narrow path to the torch was closed for safety reasons and has been closed ever since.
That same year, Ralph Pulitzer started a drive to raise money for a new lighting system. He wanted to light the statue at night. On December 2, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson turned on the new lights. When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, images of the statue were used on posters. They encouraged people to support the war and buy Liberty bonds. This reminded people that France, a wartime ally, had given the statue to the U.S.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge made the statue a national monument.
National Park Service Management
In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt put the statue under the care of the National Park Service (NPS). In 1937, the NPS also took over the rest of Bedloe's Island. The island was turned into a park. Old buildings were removed, and new steps were built for visitors. The NPS also repaired the statue's interior. Rusted steps were replaced, and copper was added to stop leaks. The statue was closed from May to December 1938 for this work.
During World War II, the statue stayed open. But it was not lit at night due to wartime blackouts. It was lit briefly on December 31, 1943, and on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Its lights flashed "dot-dot-dot-dash," which is Morse code for V, meaning victory. New, powerful lights were installed in 1944–1945. The statue was lit every night starting in 1957. In 1946, the inside of the statue was coated with plastic. This made it easier to clean off graffiti.
In 1956, Bedloe's Island was officially renamed Liberty Island. In 1965, nearby Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In 1972, an immigration museum opened in the statue's base. It closed in 1991 after a new immigration museum opened on Ellis Island.
The statue was sometimes used for protests. In 1970, women's rights activists hung a banner that said "WOMEN OF THE WORLD UNITE!" In 1971, anti-Vietnam War veterans occupied the statue for a few days.
A new lighting system was installed for the United States Bicentennial in 1976. The statue was the center of "Operation Sail," a gathering of tall ships from around the world. The day ended with fireworks near the statue.
Major Renovation and Reopening
In 1982, engineers found that the statue needed major repairs. The right arm was not attached correctly and swayed too much. The head was also two feet off center. The inner metal frame was badly rusted. About two percent of the outer copper plates needed replacing.
In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan started a commission to raise money for the repairs. Over $350 million was raised for both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A company called American Express helped by donating one cent for every purchase made with their card. This raised $1.7 million.
In 1984, the statue closed for renovation. Workers built the world's largest free-standing scaffold around it. Layers of old paint and tar were removed from the inside of the copper. Workers had to wear special protective suits. Larger holes in the copper skin were fixed. The torch, which had been leaking, was replaced with a new one. The new torch's flame is covered in 24-karat gold.
The entire iron frame designed by Gustave Eiffel was replaced with stainless steel. This new steel bends slightly with the statue's movement. The lighting was also updated. A modern elevator was installed in the pedestal for visitors. An emergency elevator was added inside the statue.
From July 3–6, 1986, "Liberty Weekend" celebrated the statue's 100th birthday and its reopening. President Reagan and French President François Mitterrand attended. The statue reopened to the public on July 5.
Recent Closures and New Museum
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the statue and Liberty Island were closed. The island reopened in late 2001, but the statue itself remained closed. The pedestal reopened in August 2004. In 2009, President Barack Obama's Secretary of the Interior announced that the statue would reopen on July 4. However, only a limited number of people could go up to the crown each day.
The statue closed again on October 29, 2011, for new elevators and staircases. It reopened on October 28, 2012. But it closed again the next day because of Hurricane Sandy. The storm did not harm the statue itself. But it damaged the docks and other buildings on Liberty and Ellis Islands. The statue and Liberty Island reopened on July 4, 2013. Ellis Island reopened later that year.
The Statue of Liberty has also closed due to government shutdowns and protests. In 2018, a woman protesting climbed onto the statue, causing a brief closure. It also closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It partially reopened in July 2020, but the crown did not reopen until October 2022.
On October 7, 2016, construction began on the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island. This $70 million museum opened on May 16, 2019. Now, all visitors to the island can visit the museum. Before, only 20% of visitors could access the old museum inside the pedestal.
Visiting the Statue
Location and How to Get There
The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay. It is south of Ellis Island. Both islands are part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Liberty Island is part of the borough of Manhattan, New York.
There is no charge to enter the national monument. But visitors must buy a ticket for the ferry service. Private boats are not allowed to dock at the island. Ferries leave from Liberty State Park in Jersey City and the Battery in Lower Manhattan. They also stop at Ellis Island. All ferry riders go through security checks, like at an airport.
If you want to go inside the statue's base and pedestal, you need a special ticket. To climb the stairs inside the statue to the crown, you must buy a special ticket in advance. Only 240 people can go up to the crown each day. Climbers can only bring medication and cameras. Lockers are available for other items. The balcony around the torch has been closed since 1916. However, you can see it live through a webcam.
Plaques and Special Markers
There are several plaques on or near the Statue of Liberty.
- A plaque on the copper states that it is a huge statue of Liberty. It was designed by Bartholdi and built by a Paris company.
- Another plaque says the statue is a gift from France. It honors the friendship between the two nations.
- A tablet from the American Committee thanks those who helped raise money for the pedestal.
- The cornerstone has a plaque placed by the Freemasons.
- In 1903, a bronze tablet with Emma Lazarus's poem, "The New Colossus", was added. It was moved to the Statue of Liberty Museum after the 1986 renovation.
- Next to Lazarus's poem is another tablet from 1977. It celebrates the poet's life.
A group of statues honors people connected to the Statue of Liberty. These include Americans Joseph Pulitzer and Emma Lazarus. They also include Frenchmen Bartholdi, Eiffel, and Laboulaye. These statues were made by sculptor Phillip Ratner.
Important Recognitions
President Calvin Coolidge officially made the Statue of Liberty a national monument in 1924. In 1965, Ellis Island was added to the monument. In 1966, both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were added to the National Register of Historic Places. The statue was added individually in 2017. It is also recognized by New Jersey and New York City as a historic place.
In 1984, the Statue of Liberty became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO called the statue a "masterpiece of the human spirit." They said it is a powerful symbol of liberty, peace, human rights, and democracy.
Measurements of the Statue
| Feature | Imperial | Metric |
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| Height of copper statue | 151 ft 1 in | 46 m |
| From ground to torch tip | 305 ft 1 in | 93 m |
| Heel to top of head | 111 ft 1 in | 34 m |
| Height of hand | 16 ft 5 in | 5 m |
| Index finger | 8 ft 1 in | 2.44 m |
| Around second finger joint | 3 ft 6 in | 1.07 m |
| Head (chin to top) | 17 ft 3 in | 5.26 m |
| Head (ear to ear) | 10 ft 0 in | 3.05 m |
| Distance across the eye | 2 ft 6 in | 0.76 m |
| Length of nose | 4 ft 6 in | 1.48 m |
| Right arm length | 42 ft 0 in | 12.8 m |
| Right arm greatest thickness | 12 ft 0 in | 3.66 m |
| Thickness of waist | 35 ft 0 in | 10.67 m |
| Width of mouth | 3 ft 0 in | 0.91 m |
| Tablet, length | 23 ft 7 in | 7.19 m |
| Tablet, width | 13 ft 7 in | 4.14 m |
| Tablet, thickness | 2 ft 0 in | 0.61 m |
| Height of pedestal | 89 ft 0 in | 27.13 m |
| Height of foundation | 65 ft 0 in | 19.81 m |
| Weight of copper used | 60,000 pounds | 27.22 tonnes |
| Weight of steel used | 250,000 pounds | 113.4 tonnes |
| Total weight of statue | 450,000 pounds | 204.1 tonnes |
| Thickness of copper sheeting | 3/32 of an inch | 2.4 mm |
Statue in Pop Culture
Many smaller copies of the Statue of Liberty are found worldwide. A one-fourth size replica stands in Paris, France. It faces west towards its larger sister in New York. Another 30-foot-tall copy used to be on a warehouse in Manhattan. It is now at the Brooklyn Museum. The Boy Scouts of America also donated about 200 smaller replicas to cities across the U.S.
The Goddess of Democracy statue, built during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, was inspired by the Statue of Liberty. A copy of the statue is also part of the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Statue of Liberty is often seen on U.S. coins and stamps. It appeared on coins for its 1986 centennial. It was also on New York's 2001 state quarter. An image of the statue's torch is on the current ten-dollar bill.
Many groups use the statue's image. The Women's National Basketball Association's New York Liberty team uses the statue's name and image in their logo. The New York Rangers hockey team has used the statue's head on their jersey. The Libertarian Party of the United States uses the statue in its emblem.
The statue is a common subject in movies and music. In the 1942 film Saboteur, the climax happens at the torch. In the 1968 movie Planet of the Apes, the statue is seen half-buried in sand. It is knocked over in films like Independence Day and Cloverfield. The statue is a powerful symbol in many stories.
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Head of Liberty, U.S. airmail stamp, 1971
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Reverse side of a Presidential Dollar coin
Images for kids
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The Statue of Liberty in October 2015
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The Roman goddess Libertas and the sun god Sol Invictus (pictured) inspired the Statue of Liberty's design.
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Bartholdi's 1880 sculpture, Lion of Belfort
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Detail from a 1855–56 fresco by Constantino Brumidi in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., showing two early symbols of America: Columbia (left) and the Indian princess
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Thomas Crawford's Statue of Freedom (1854–1857) on top of the dome of the Capitol building in Washington
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Liberty is shown with her right foot raised, walking forward over a broken shackle and chain.
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This old photo shows the Statue of Liberty's right arm and torch at the 1876 Centennial Exposition.
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The statue's head was shown at the 1878 Paris World's Fair.
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Richard Morris Hunt's pedestal being built in June 1885
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Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, June 1885, showing (clockwise from left) woodcuts of the completed statue in Paris, Bartholdi, and the statue's interior structure
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Liberty Enlightening the World, or The Statue of Liberty, a stained glass window commissioned by Joseph Pulitzer to celebrate fundraising for the pedestal.
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Unveiling of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World (1886) by Edward Moran.
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A government poster using the Statue of Liberty to promote the sale of Liberty Bonds during World War I.
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Bedloe's Island in 1927, showing the statue and army buildings. The star-shaped walls of Fort Wood are visible.
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July 4, 1986: First Lady Nancy Reagan (in red) reopens the statue to the public.
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The Statue of Liberty on September 11, 2001, with the Twin Towers burning in the background.
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The new staircase to the crown
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The Statue of Liberty's original torch (1886–1984) is now displayed in the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island.
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Tourists arriving at Liberty Island on a Circle Line ferry in June 1973.
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The Statue of Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island.
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A replica of the Statue of Liberty on Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
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The Statue of Liberty replica from Pont de Grenelle, Paris.
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Head of Liberty, U.S. airmail stamp, 1971
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Reverse side of a Presidential Dollar coin
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de la Libertad para niños
- Goddess of Liberty, 1888 statue by Elijah E. Myers atop the Texas State Capitol dome in Austin, Texas
- Miss Freedom, 1889 statue on the dome of the Georgia State Capitol (US)
- Place des États-Unis, in Paris, France
- The Statue of Liberty (film), a 1985 Ken Burns documentary film
- Statues and sculptures in New York City
- List of tallest statues
