Statue of Liberty (New York, USA)

The Statue of Liberty (full name – Liberty Enlightening the World) is one of the most famous sculptures in US and in the whole world, which is often dubbed the “Symbol of New York and United States,” “Symbol of Freedom and Democracy,” and “Lady Freedom.” It is a gift from the citizens of France for the 100^th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The Statue of Liberty is situated on the Liberty Island, approximately 3 kilometers south-west of the southern tip of Manhattan, one of New York City’s boroughs. Until 1956, the island was called Bedloe’s Island, although local people called it the Island of Freedom starting from the beginning of XX century.

The goddess of freedom holds a torch in her right hand and a scroll – in her left. The inscription on the scroll says “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (“July 4 of 1776”), which is the date when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The “Freedom” steps with one foot on broken chains.

Visitors walk 356 steps to the crown of the statue of liberty or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown, signifying precious stones of the earth and heavenly rays illuminating the world. Seven rays on the statue’s crown signify seven seas and seven continents (according to the Western geographic tradition there are seven continents).

The total weight of copper, used for casting the statue’s skin, is 31 tons, and the total weight of its steel construction – 125 tons. The total weight of its concrete base is 27,000 tons. The thickness of the copper skin of the statue is 2.7 millimeters.

The height of the statue from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including its base and the pedestal. The height of the statue proper from the top of the pedestal to the torch is 46 meters.

The statue was built of thin copper plates, beaten in wooden forms. Molded plates were then installed on a steel frame.

Usually, the statue is open to visitors, arriving, as a rule, by a ferry. One can ascend the staircase leading to the crown, from where he can enjoy panoramic view of the New York Bay. In a museum, located within the pedestal (accessible by elevator) there is an exhibition on the history of the statue.

French sculptor Frederic August Bartholdi was entrusted to create the statue. It was intended as a gift for the 100^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one of the versions, Bartholdi even had a French model: beautiful and recently widowed Isabella Boyer, the wife of Isaac Singer – the inventor and entrepreneur in the field of sowing machines. «She was freed from the awkward presence of her husband, who left her with the most respectable attributes in society: wealth… and children. From the very start of her career in Paris, she was a celebrity. As a beautiful French widow of an American entrepreneur, she was a fitting model for the Statue of Liberty of Bartholdi.”

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