The Statue of Liberty was a friendship gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, on the completion of 100 years of independence. It is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Located on the Liberty Island of New York, occupying 12 acres of land, the monument welcomes all those who come to New York as tourists and also welcomes the inhabitants who are returning to their native place. The copper clad statue is of a robed woman, who holds a book in her one hand and a torch in the other. The Statue is one of the most recognizable icons globally.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Statue of Liberty
- Statue of Liberty is believed to be the tallest metal statue ever made.
- The height of the Statue of Liberty is 152 feet or 46 cm high.
- Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was sculptor of Statue of Liberty and the Iron work on inside was done by Gustave Eiffel.
- It took 15 years to build the Statue of Liberty. The work started in 1870 and was unveiled in New York, on October 28, 1886.
- Statue of Liberty is made of three kinds of material. The iron bars are used to support skin, copper is used as a skin over the underlying structure and stone and concrete are used for pedestal.
- The height of the Statue of Liberty, from the ground to tip of torch, is 305' 1" or 92.99 m.
- There are 25 windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty, which symbolize gemstones found on the earth and the heaven's rays shining over the world.
- The seven rays of the Statue's crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world.
- Winds of 50 miles per hour can cause the Statue of Liberty to sway up to 3 inches (7.62cm) and the torch can sway up to 5 inches (12.70cm)
- The interior of the pedestal contains a bronze plaque, inscribed with the poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.
- There are hundreds of other Statues of Liberty that have been erected all around the globe.
- The image of the Statue of Liberty has been used on American bills and coins.
- After three years of the end of World War I, US used the Statue of Liberty as the symbol of the significance America placed on freedom and hope, with Liberty's beacon lighting the way for all nations.
- Statue of Liberty has turned green, over the years, due to the effects of acid- rain on its copper sheathing.
- Statue of Liberty was repaired and restored in the mid 1980s, by a combined French and American work force, for the centennial celebration held in July 1986.
- In 1984, at the start of the Statue's restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site.
- The new torch of the Statue of Liberty has gold plating applied to the exterior of the "flame," which is illuminated by external lamps on the surrounding balcony platform.
- Statue of Liberty was closed as a result of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Although Liberty Island re-opened after being closed for 100 days, the Statue remained closed until August 3, 2004.