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For centuries, theStatue of Libertyhas stood as an illuminating symbol of independence.
If you want to learn more about Lady Liberty, you’ve landed in the right place.
The Statue of Liberty’s full name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
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France gave it to America in 1886.
The answer is simple: Lady Liberty is a French export!
Specifically, it was intended as a gesture of friendship following the American Civil War.
“The great Bartholdi statue, liberty enlightening the world: the gift of France to the American people,” 1885 (Photo: Public domain viaWikimedia Commons)
The statues face may be modeled after the sculptors mother.
The face of the statue came from inspiration a little closer to home, the sculptors mother Charlotte.
It represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom.
Liberty Statue, work in progress, 1884 (Photo: Public domain viaWikimedia Commons)
Small-scale copies are scattered around Paris.
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Throughout Paris, severalreplicaspay homage to Lady Liberty’s French roots.
In theMusee d’Orsay, there is a 9.4-foot-tall copy cast by Bartholdi himself.
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This sculpture used to be in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Today, a newer copy can be found in its original place.
Inside the museum, visitors will also find the original plaster maquette crafted by Bartholdi.
Vintage ornament of Libertas the Roman goddess on a historic building (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Predrag Jankovic/Shutterstock)
A final copy can be found on theIle aux Cygnes, a man-made island in the Seine River.
This sculpture was actually a gift from America as a way to say thank you forLiberty Enlightening the World.
The statue was brought to New York in pieces.
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Filmmakers love wrecking the Statue of Liberty.
you might find Lady Liberty in disrepair inIndependence Day,The Day After Tomorrow, andPlanet of the Apes.
It functioned as a lighthouse for 16 years.
Statue of Liberty Arm, 1876, Philadelphia Centennial Exposition (Photo: Public domain viaWikimedia Commons)
For 16 years, it doubled as alighthouse, with the figure’s symbolic lamp serving as the beacon.
It is struck by lightning about 600 times a year.
The statue is filled with symbolism.
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Specifically, since its onset, it has been celebrated for its complex and comprehensivesymbolism.
Its famous inscription was written to raise funds for its construction.
The pedestal sits on the remains of Fort Wood, which was built between 1808 and 1811.
The original torch (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Felix Lipov/Shutterstock)
It cost only $500,000.
The statue wears a size 879 shoe.
The torch has been closed since 1916.
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In the 1980s, Lady Liberty received a much-needed makeover.
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To mark itscentennial, the Statue of Liberty was renovated from 1984-1986.
The spikes on the crown symbolize liberty as a universal concept.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Chris Parypa Photography/Shutterstock
There are 25 windows in the crown.
There are 393 steps taking visitors up to the crown.
This distance is roughly the vertical distance of 27 levels in a normal building.
Photo:Sean O’NeillviaFlickr(CC BY-ND 2.0)
Its green color is here to stay.
Known as apatina, this coating is a result of thecopper’soxidation.
Laboulaye hoped it would inspire France as well.
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Every year, 4.5 million people visit the statue.
DONT FORGET YOUR CITYPASS!
And better yet, when you have the pass, you’ll get priority entry into some of them.
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Lowe, Jet, Detail of right foot, December 1985 (Photo: Public domain viaWikimedia Commons)
Front page of July 31, 1916 “The Boston Globe” (Photo:The Boston Globevia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
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View from the crown of the Statue of Liberty (Photo:Stock Photosfrom CrookshanksPhotography/Shutterstock)
Looking down from inside the Statue of Liberty’s Crown (Photo:Stock Photosfrom PatSimmons/Shutterstock)
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Photo:Stock Photosfrom Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/Shutterstock
