New york statue of liberty history
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Here's a brief history of the statue:
Design and Construction
The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, dedicated to the principles of freedom and democracy. The statue was designed to symbolize the friendship between the two countries and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence.
The statue was constructed in France and shipped to the United States, where it was assembled on Bedloe's Island (now known as Liberty Island) in 1886. The statue was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland.
Symbolism
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, and its design reflects this. The statue depicts a robed female figure, known as Libertas, holding a torch above her head in her right hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence in her left hand. The tablet represents the law and the principles of democracy, while the torch represents the light of freedom.
The statue's pedestal is inscribed with the famous phrase "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-tossed to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" from Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus."
History and Significance
The Statue of Liberty has played a significant role in American history, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The statue was a symbol of hope and freedom for millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, the nearby immigration station, on their way to a new life in the United States.
During World War I, the statue was used as a symbol of American patriotism, and during World War II, it was used as a symbol of American resistance to tyranny. In the 1960s and 1970s, the statue became a symbol of the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement.
In 1986, the Statue of Liberty was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. In 2011, the statue underwent a major restoration project, which included repairing the statue's copper exterior and restoring the interior of the pedestal.
Interesting Facts
- The Statue of Liberty is made of copper sheets that are 3/32 of an inch thick.
- The statue's pedestal is made of granite and limestone.
- The statue's torch is made of copper and is covered in gold leaf.
- The statue's tablet is inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence in Roman numerals.
- The statue's pedestal is inscribed with the famous phrase "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-tossed to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" from Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus."
- The statue's original intention was to be a symbol of friendship between France and the United States, but it has become a symbol of freedom and democracy for people all over the world.
Overall, the Statue of Liberty is an iconic symbol of American history and culture, and its significance extends far beyond its physical presence on Liberty Island.