The Statue of Liberty, one of the most famous sculptures in the United States and the world, reopened on July 4, Independence Day, after repairs and work to clean up the aftermath of Atlantic Hurricane Sandy, which hit the country's coast last fall. The symbol of New York and the United States is a gift from the people of France for the centennial of the American Revolution in 1886.
This issue contains photographs that tell the story of the Statue of Liberty from its birth in Paris to the present day.
The French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model.
His first project failed 
Studio in Paris, 1875.
By mutual agreement, America was to build the pedestal, and France was to create the statue and install it in the United States. However, there was a shortage of money on both sides Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing matches were held to raise funds.
Left: The hand and torch of the Statue of Liberty are created in a studio in Paris, 1876. Right: The head of the Statue of Liberty is being created in a Paris studio, 1880.
Meanwhile, in France, the sculptor Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve the design issues associated with the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (the future creator of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive steel support.
Workers creating a Statue in a Paris workshop, 1882.
The statue was completed by the French in July 1884. Here she stands near the workshop of the sculptor Bartholdi in Paris.
She was transported to New York on June 17, 1885, aboard the French frigate Isere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 parts and packed into 214 boxes. The location for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by an Act of Congress in 1877, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi himself, on Bedloe's Island, where a star-shaped fort had stood since the beginning of the 19th century.
The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, which was attended by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators.
New York, 1930. The Statue of Liberty is often called “the symbol of New York and the USA”, “the symbol of freedom and democracy”, “Lady Liberty”.
The ocean liner Queen Mary and the Statue of Liberty, June 1, 1936. A few numbers. The height from the ground to the top of the torch of the Statue of Liberty is 92.99 m, the height of the statue is 33.86 m, the height from the ground to the top of the pedestal is 46.94 m.
Bedlow Island, where the Statue of Liberty was installed, was a slum area. Congressmen asked for $1,000,000 to clear the area on the island. New York, March 5, 1948.
September 7, 1937 square national monument was enlarged to cover all of Bedlow Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. Photo: Visitors looking out from the crown of the Statue, October 26, 1946.
In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan ordered the collection of money and restoration of the Statue of Liberty. $87 million was raised for restoration. On July 4, 1984, restoration began.
Restoration of the Statue of Liberty, 1984.
Let's take a look inside. The frame and various supporting structures are visible here, 1984.
Metal frame and spiral staircase inside the Statue, 1988.
Old torch of the Statue of Liberty.
This is a new torch and a view of Manhattan, 1985.
At the beginning of the restoration work, the Statue of Liberty was included in the List World Heritage UNESCO. On July 5, 1986, the restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public during Liberty Weekend celebrating her centennial.
The statue and island were closed from September 11, 2001 to August 3, 2004, following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan, October 26, 2006. By the way, there are Statues of Liberty in other cities. Most copies of the Statue of Liberty are located in its homeland - France. There are four of them in Paris.
After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the Statue and its crown were reopened for tours only on July 4, 2009. Visitors to Liberty Island and the Statue are still subject to restrictions, including body searches similar to airport security checks.
The Statue of Liberty and the Space Shuttle Discovery flying on the back of the mighty, specially equipped Boeing 747 airliner, April 27, 2012.
In October 2012, the Atlantic hurricane Sandy made a devastating march across the North American continent, one way or another paralyzing the life of 13 states. The statue itself, over 33 meters high, withstood the hurricane, the consequences of which in New York have not yet been fully eliminated, but Liberty Island suffered severe flooding and disruptions in the power supply system. Tens of millions of dollars were spent on restoration work.
Following restoration work, the Statue of Liberty reopened to the general public on July 4, 2013.
The Statue of Liberty has been one of the symbols of the United States for more than a century. But many ideas about it are incorrect, and some very little is known. Let's find out more about this unusual monument.
First of all, we note that it is officially called differently - “Freedom Illuminating the World.” The sculpture is located on island of the same name three kilometers southwest of Manhattan. For a long time it was called Bellow Island. The monument holds in its right hand a torch (which, as it were, “illuminates” the world), and in its left hand a tablet with the date of the US Declaration of Independence, written in Latin numerals. One of the legs of the “Illuminator” tramples torn shackles.
The seven rays in the crown crowning the statue symbolically represent the seas and continents. And yet, what is the Statue of Liberty in the USA made of? It would seem that it should be steel or stone, judging by the perception.
However, it's not that simple. There is steel there - 125 tons. The sculptors also used 31 tons of copper, which covers it with a layer of just over two and a half millimeters. However, the numbers for both steel and copper simply pale in comparison to the concrete base, which reaches twenty-seven thousand tons. Thin copper sheets are mounted on top of a steel frame. Together with the foundation and pedestal, the height to the top of the torch reaches ninety-three meters.
Where was the Statue of Liberty made?
The monument symbolizing the United States was not actually made in America or even in the Western Hemisphere!
The author of the sculpture is the Frenchman Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The idea was to present it as a gift for the centennial anniversary of the United States. It’s interesting that they were going to install it in Port Said, Egypt, and call it “The Light of Asia.” However, the Cairo government decided not to spend money on installation and transportation.
When France and America entered into an agreement, it was assumed that they would make, respectively, sculpture and installation at the expense of Paris, and the pedestal at the expense of Washington. But material difficulties that arose on both sides of the ocean slowed things down.
What material was used for production?
It seems that we already know the answer to this question. But... let's not rush. The copper for that very statue was either mined in Bashkiria or smelted in Nizhny Tagil. The pedestal underneath is made of German cement.
However, that's not all! In addition to the sculpture itself, there are many copies of it. There are four of them in Paris alone; gilded version with a lantern instead of a torch in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer. There are many other versions - for example, in one of the Las Vegas casinos, in Japan, the broken head of the once existing “freedom” in the Tretyakov Gallery, in Dnepropetrovsk, Lvov, Budapest, Riga.
After the tragedy of September 11, the original Statue of Liberty was closed to the public. Currently, it is available to everyone, but subject to thorough searches similar to those carried out in international airports. Consequently, the symbol of the USA is one of the safest sites in the world for tourists.
But not for US residents.
This statue is to them was donated by the French government in honor of the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution. Since then, Bedlow Island, on which Lady Liberty is installed, is now called Liberty Island.
In English the name sounds like Statue of Liberty, and is literally translated into Russian as the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty stands on broken chains. In her left hand is a tablet, on which is written a significant date for America (the day the US Declaration of Independence was signed - July 4, 1776). In her other hand she has a torch, which personifies the light that illuminates the path to freedom.
For your information! To reach the crown, tourists have to climb 356 steps. But it's worth it, because having climbed to the top, from the main observation deck Simply incredible spaces open up. There are 25 windows here, which are symbols of precious stones.
You can visit the museum inside the statue and learn the long journey of creating America's main attraction. You can get to the museum using an elevator.
What does the statue symbolize and mean?
The Statue of Liberty got its name for a reason. This symbol of freedom of the American people. It personifies and means the victory of democracy and the independence of the country.
History of creation
What was the idea for creating the statue?
The main reason for creating the statue was declaration of independence of the United States of America which occurred on July 4, 1776.
What year was it built?
Solemn o The opening of the sculpture took place on October 28, 1886. The ceremony was attended by US President Grover Cleveland.
An interesting fact is that only men were present at this event, despite the fact that the statue symbolized democracy. As an exception, there could be several women on the island, among whom was Bartholdi’s wife.
Who is the creator and architect?
The author of the project and creator of the Statue of Liberty is French sculptor and architect Frederic Bartholdi. The French engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel, creator of the Eiffel Tower, participated in the creation and design of the frame and reinforcing elements.
Interesting fact! But both Americans and French took part in the construction of the monument. For example, the star-shaped pedestal is the design of the American architect Richard Morris Hunt.
How was the construction and installation?
History tells that body parts of the future Lady Liberty were cast in France, but the pedestal was created in America. Over the course of 4 months, the connection of the statue took place. Bartholdi made mistakes in his calculations several times.
The fact is that the materials allocated for the construction of the monument turned out to be insufficient. To solve financial problems, charity evenings were organized, the main purpose of which was to collect money to buy materials.
Americans were reluctant to give their money, as a result of which the famous American journalist Joseph Pulitzer wrote a couple of articles in the newspaper in which he called on the upper and middle classes to take part in the construction of a symbol of American freedom.
By this time, the French had completed half of their work, and the finished parts of the statue were sent to America.
What happened to the statue over the years until our time?
Originally the Statue of Liberty was supposed to be used as a lighthouse. But the lamps built into the structure were not too powerful. No practical use was found for the statue, so in 1921 the monument was transferred to the US War Department, and in 1933 - to the US National Park Service.
Pay attention! For the 100th anniversary of the creation of the monument, a total reconstruction was carried out. This was President Reagan's decision. All funds for reconstruction were collected from American citizens. $2 million was spent on renovations.
Throughout the existence of the statue, the period of its visit changed several times. Excursions were not conducted in the following years:
- for the period from 1982 to 1986 (reconstruction);
- from September 2001 to the end of 2004 (due to the threat of terrorist attacks);
- in October 2013 (government activities suspended).
Which country gave the statue to the USA?
The Statue of Liberty was given to America by the French government in honor of the 100th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.
The giant monument was planned to be presented on July 4, 1876. Due to shortage cash this celebration had to be postponed.
Where is it located?
The monument is located in the USA on Liberty Island, which is located in the state of New Jersey in 3 km southwest of the coast of the New York borough of Manhattan.
The map shows the exact location of the monument; the scale can be increased and decreased:
The territory of Liberty Island was originally part of the State of New Jersey and was subsequently administered by the city. New York, A currently under federal control.
What is he holding in his hands?
The Statue of Liberty is one of the world's most famous masterpieces.
In her right hand she has a torch, and in her left, a sign with an inscription.
What is written on the sign in your hand?
In his right hand is a sign on which is written the date of an important event for the people of America - Independence Day of the United States of America.
Characteristics
Height
Lady Liberty's dimensions are quite impressive. Its height to the top of the torch is 93 meters.
How many rays are there on the crown?
There are 25 viewing windows on the crown. They are a symbol of America's wealth. But the rays that come out of it (7 pieces), represent the seven continents and seas. In addition, they symbolize the expansion of freedom in all directions.
How much does the monument weigh?
The weight of one Lady Liberty marigold is 1.5 kg, and the entire monument weighs 225 tons.
What is it made of?
Manufacturing material - copper. To cast the “lady” it took about 31 tons.
Length of the nose and other elements
Here are the main ones dimensions of the main elements of the face:
- head - 5.26 m;
- nose length – 1.37 m;
- eyes – 0.76 m;
- arm length - 12.8 m;
- brush length – 5 m.
The tablet placed in the right hand measures 7.19 m.
What is it installed on?
One Lady's leg is set on broken shackles. This is how Bartholdi symbolically showed the acquisition of freedom.
The base is made of concrete. To complete it, a significant amount of cement was required.
Where is he looking?
For many years, this grandiose landmark has been greeting tourists and emigrants with words that are engraved on the pedestal. They reflect the lives of the American people, equal opportunity, freedom and democracy.
For this reason Lady Liberty with its back to the city and facing the bay. Thus, she looks at the ships arriving in the country with guests and emigrants.
What's inside?
At the foot of the monument there is a broken chain. Which symbolizes the broken shackles of slavery and the victory of democracy. There are windows in the crown for viewing, but to add to them you need to climb 356 steps. Inside the monument, tourists can easily move along the spiral staircases.
For your information! In addition to the incredibly beautiful view from the windows on Lady Liberty’s crown, there is a museum inside, by visiting which you can learn the whole history of the creation of this monument.
You can get to the museum by elevator, which is located inside the pedestal. Thanks to the glass flow, you can see the impressive "insides" of the statue.
Why is the monument green?
Despite the fact that today the monument is green, in the original it was a bright gold-orange color.
This is not noticeable in black and white photographs, but this fact is confirmed by historical references.
For example, in Russia in the Hermitage there is a painting in which you can see the original color of the statue.
Since they used to make the statue copper, then after the first decades, it oxidized, as a result of which it turned green. Although during New York sunsets, Lady Liberty turns an unusually bright color that is a bit reminiscent of the original.
How can you get to and visit the Statue of Liberty?
To the site of the monument for a tour, tourists travel by ferry. Their favorite place remains the crown. And this is not surprising, since it is from there that the beauty of the local landscape and views of the New York coast open up.
Jeroen van Luin / flickr.com Alan Strakey / flickr.com Liberty Island, New York, USA (Delta Whiskey / flickr.com) Statue of Liberty, New York, USA (Mobilus In Mobili / flickr.com) Andy Atzert / flickr .com Anthony Quintano / flickr.com Liberty Island, New York (Phil Dolby / flickr.com) Anthony Quintano / flickr.com Chris Tse / flickr.com sylvain.collet / flickr.com Plaque in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty with the date of adoption Declaration of Independence (Pete Bellis / flickr.com) ali sinan köksal / flickr.com Jon Dawson / flickr.com Tom Thai / flickr.com Wilhelm Joys Andersen / flickr.com David Ohmer / flickr.com Justin / flickr.com Torch of the Statue of Liberty (Mike Clarke / flickr.com) Top view of the Statue of Liberty (StatueLibrtyNPS / flickr.com)
The Statue of Liberty is the main symbol of the American people, the idea of freedom. In addition, this is another symbol of the New York metropolis.
The majestic structure in America is located on Liberty Island. Approximately 3 thousand meters in a southwesterly direction from the south of Manhattan Island in New York. Until 56 of the last century, the island in the USA, which is now decorated with the Statue of Liberty, was called Bedlow. Although at the beginning of the century it was already nicknamed “Freedom Island”.
In the right hand of the statue, which is 12.8 meters long, there is a burning torch. On the left is a sign, the length of which is 4.14 meters. The date of the Declaration of Independence of the United States from Great Britain is written on it.
Broken shackles can be seen under the statue’s feet, which in turn symbolizes liberation. On the head, the distance from the chin to the back of the head is 5.26 meters. The length of the nose is 1.37 meters.
7 Prong Crown of the Statue of Liberty, New York (sylvain.collet / flickr.com)
The statue is crowned with a crown of 7 teeth. This is a symbol of seven seas and at the same time seven continents. According to geography, there are only seven continents on the globe: Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica. Seven seas mean the same number of parts of the World Ocean. There are also windows in the crown that sparkle like diamonds in the sun and decorate it.
Another fact is that visitors usually walk 192 steps to get to the podium. And in order to climb to the very top, you need to overcome 356 steps. The size of the statue is quite impressive. The total height of the structure is 93 meters. And the height of the statue itself is 46 meters.
To visit this attraction, you need to get to the island by ferry. Usually they go to the very top, from where you can admire the stunning panorama of New York and its harbor, which defies description.
Who gave the Statue of Liberty to America?
Despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of America and New York, it was not made in the States. Where did she come from then?
Plaque in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty with the date of the Declaration of Independence (Pete Bellis / flickr.com)
The attraction is interesting because it is a gift from France to the States on Independence Day. The statue was designed and made by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor. The main idea is to give a gift to America on the centennial of the Declaration of Independence.
The widow Isabella Boyer posed for the statue. An interesting fact is that this was the wife of Singer, an American creator of a famous brand of sewing machines. This lady was not the last person in the capital and at the same time a beautiful woman.
An interesting fact is that the Statue of Liberty was originally planned to be erected not in New York, but in Port Said - in Egypt. But the Egyptian authorities considered this project too expensive. Therefore, it was decided to move the structure to the USA, where it will rise on the island of the New York metropolis.
Design and preparation for construction
The US authorities undertook to build the pedestal, and the statue itself was made in Paris. The French undertook to install it on site.
View from above of the Article of Liberty, New York, USA (Phil Dolby / flickr.com)
In order to raise the necessary amount for the implementation of the project, special measures were taken in both countries. In France, a certain amount of money was raised through lotteries, entertainment events, and citizen donations. In America, in order to raise the required amount, theatrical performances, artist exhibitions, fights in the ring and auctions were held.
In France, the author of the structure, Bartholdi, needed a technically educated person to construct the statue. Another interesting fact, this person was destined to become the architect Gustave Eiffel, the famous work which in the future became the Eiffel Tower. He needed to design a steel support for the structure and a frame to support the statue with great height in a vertical position.
For a statue of great height, a huge amount of copper was needed. There are different interesting versions about the place of its extraction. For example, in Russia, in Nizhny Tagil. But the results of the study revealed that the copper was from Norway. The concrete base on which the Statue of Liberty stands required large number cement. A German concrete production company undertook to supply it.
The formation of the amount necessary for construction did not proceed quickly enough. Joseph Pulitzer even called on American citizens to support construction. His speeches significantly influenced the speed of implementation of the plan. The pedestal was designed by an architect named Richard Morris Hunt.
Erecting the Statue of Liberty
Construction of the massive foundation near Manhattan in New York began on August 5, 1885. It took a little less than 9 months to build, and work ended on April 22, 1886. Steel lintels are inserted inside the stone pedestal. The metal beams connected to them are directed upward to form an Eiffel frame inside the structure itself.
France made its gift in the summer. The length of the entire structure was almost 34 meters. For transportation, it was disassembled into 350 fragments, which were distributed among many boxes. They were transported to the USA on the ship Isere. After 11 months, the Statue of Liberty appeared near New York, where it was erected in 4 months of work.
The Statue of Liberty was officially unveiled in 1886 in New York. The celebration was attended by Grover Cleveland, then ruling in the United States, and more than a thousand residents and guests of the city.
History of the Statue of Liberty of the United States of America
The Statue of Liberty near New York City sits on its massive granite base inside Fort Wood, built for defensive purposes in early XIX century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the lighthouse service was responsible for the operation of the facility. The US military then took over this role.
On October 15, by decree of the US government, Fort Wood, together with the Statue of Liberty, acquired the status of a monument to the American nation in the United States.
“a symbol of New York and the USA” Jon Dawson / flickr.com
In 1933, the US National Park Service became responsible for the Statue of Liberty. In 1937, the size of the monument grew and began to coincide with the outline of Bedloe. In 1956, the name of the island changed, it acquired a new name - Freedom Island.
In 1982, under the influence of the head of the country, Reagan, a project was created to restore the Statue of Liberty. As a result, the amount of $87 million was collected. In 1984, restoration work began, during which the old torch was replaced with a modern one with gold plating. Another interesting fact is that 24-karat gold was used for plating. In 1986, the renovated Statue of Liberty welcomed everyone to visit it on the occasion of its anniversary.
In early September 2001, due to the tragedy in the Twin Towers, the island, along with the Statue of Liberty, became inaccessible to those wishing to visit it. It was only in 2004 that the Statue of Liberty was again open to the public, but access to the top was still closed.
On July 4, 2009, by order of US President Obama, it became possible to visit the top of the Statue of Liberty. In 2011, the elevators with stairs were updated in honor of the next anniversary. In addition, for the convenience of visitors, an escalator was installed here. In 2012, the Statue of Liberty became fully accessible to New York residents and visitors to the United States.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the symbols of America and New York. It has been attracting tourists for many years and is a cult place among Americans.
The Statue of Liberty is located in America, in New York. To be more precise, it stands on Liberty Island a few kilometers from the southern tip of Manhattan Island.
An interesting nuance - formally, the statue is not located in the state of New York, but in the state of New Jersey. The border between the states runs along the Hudson River.
The Statue of Liberty is one of New York's most visited.
It has been featured in numerous films and is a destination for countless visitors seeking a glimpse into the history of the United States.
Received as a gift to the United States from the French in 1876, the Statue of Liberty is a literal and figurative beacon of hope and freedom for many, holding a special place in American history and culture.
After all, very close to Liberty Island, on which the statue is located, is located Ellis Island, famous for its rich history. It was the first place where European immigrants arrived when they arrived in the New World in search of a better life.
More than 12 million European immigrants passed through this portal between 1892 and 1954. It is believed that more than a quarter of all Americans have among their ancestors someone who came to America through Ellis Island.
Newly arrived immigrants were examined for health, and some were sent back to their home countries. Ellis Island was often called the Island of Tears.
That's why many Americans visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
They want to learn something new, to stand in the same place where the new immigrants stood when they first arrived in this country so many years ago. There is an Immigration Museum on the island.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are accessible by ferry from Battery Park in New York City (the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island).
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are open to visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except .
Now you know where the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are located, and what they meant to European immigrants when they first set foot on American soil.
Liberty Island in New York will long be a favorite among the attractions of this city.
You can read more about the Statue of Liberty itself in the article
