The figure presiding over New York harbor, officially
titled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” has been a harbinger of
freedom for millions since her inauguration by President Grover
Cleveland in 1886. The statue, a gift of friendship from the French to
mark the U.S.’s 100th birthday in 1876, was designed by the French
sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who devoted 21 years to the
project. Slow fundraising on both sides of the Atlantic delayed the
unveiling by 10 years, but no problem was encountered financing the $100
million restoration for the statue’s 100th birthday. Her unveiling on
July 3, 1986, was the occasion for the largest fireworks display ever
seen in the U.S.
Take the 1 train
to South Ferry, 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, or the R or W train to
White-hall St to get to Battery Park by subway. Ferries leave from Castle Clinton, Battery Park, every 30–45 mins between 8:30am–4pm daily (winter from 9:30am)
www.nps.gov/stli
|
|
The Statue of
Liberty has symbolized the beginning of a new way of life for millions
of immigrants fleeing poverty and hardship. She is an enduring symbol of
the freedom and hope offered by the U.S. and the subject of Emma
Lazarus’s poem The New Colossus: “ …Give
me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the
golden door”.
|
|
Crowds can be heavy, so an early departure is advised. A cafeteria is available on site.
|
|
|
For the best photos, sit on the right of the boat going out, the left coming back.
|
|
Top 10 FeaturesCastle Clinton National Monument Built
as a fort in 1807, it now serves as a visitor center for Statue of
Liberty and Ellis Island visitors. The building exhibits panoramas of
New York history.
Battery Park With
statues and monuments honoring everyone from New York’s first Jewish
immigrants to the U.S. Coast Guard, the park is also a great spot for
sea-gazing. Boat Ride The
views from the ferries that carry a constant stream of visitors from
Manhattan and Jersey City to the Statue of Liberty and on to Ellis
Island are dramatic.
Close-up View of the Statue A
close-up view reveals the awesome size of the Statue of Liberty.
Dominating New York harbor, she stands 305 ft (93 m) tall and weighs 200
tons. Her right arm carrying the symbolic torch is 42 ft (13 m) long
while her index finger measures 8 ft (2.4 m) and dwarfs most men. Pedestal Richard
Morris Hunt, one of America’s most prestigious architects, was chosen
to design the 89-ft (27-m) pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The
pedestal sits on a concrete foundation within the 11-pointed,
star-shaped walls of Fort Wood, a fortress erected for the War of 1812. Crown Legend
says that Bartholdi’s mother was the model for Liberty, but the face
was actually based on his early drawings for a never-commissioned statue
in Egypt. The seven rays of her crown represent the seven seas and
seven continents.
Torch and Book The
new torch, with its 24-carat gold leaf-coated flame, was added during a
1984–86 restoration. The original is on display in the main lobby. The
book in the statue’s left hand is inscribed July 4, 1776, in Roman
numerals.
Restoration celebrations, July 3, 1986
Frame Gustave
Eiffel, best known for his Paris tower, created the inner framework.
The copper sheeting shell, weighing 31 tons, is hung on bars from a
massive central iron pylon that anchors the statue to the base. Views The
observation decks in the pedestal and crown of the Liberty Statue,
offer spectacular views of Manhattan. The crown reopen-ed to limited
numbers of visitors in 2009 following its closure due to the events of
September 11. Historical Exhibits The
museum inside the base documents the complete history of the Statue of
Liberty using photos, prints, videos, oral histories, and fullscale
replicas of the face and foot. A pass is required to visit the base and
observation platform.
|
