The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World, French: La Libert clairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty

Island in New York Harbor, designed by Fr d ric !artholdi and dedicated on "ctober #$, %$$&' The statue, a gi(t to the )nited *tates (ro+ the people o( France, is o( a robed (e+ale (igure representing Libertas, the ,o+an goddess o( (reedo+, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet e-oking the law) upon which is inscribed the date o( the .+erican /eclaration o( Independence' . broken chain lies at her (eet' The statue has beco+e an iconic sy+bol o( (reedo+ and o( the )nited *tates' !artholdi was inspired by French law pro(essor and politician 0douard ,en de Laboulaye, who co++ented in %$&1 that any +onu+ent raised to .+erican independence would properly be a 2oint pro2ect o( the French and .+erican peoples' /ue to the troubled political situation in France, work on the statue did not co++ence until the early %$34s' In %$31, Laboulaye proposed that the French (inance the statue and the .+ericans pro-ide the pedestal and the site' !artholdi co+pleted both the head and the torch5bearing ar+ be(ore the statue was (ully designed, and these pieces were e6hibited (or publicity at international e6positions' The ar+ was displayed in New York7s 8adison *9uare :ark (ro+ %$3& to %$$#' Fundraising pro-ed di((icult, especially (or the .+ericans, and by %$$1 work on the pedestal was threatened due to lack o( (unds' :ublisher ;oseph :ulit<er o( the World initiated a dri-e (or donations to co+plete the pro2ect, and the ca+paign inspired o-er %#4,444 contributors, +ost o( who+ ga-e less than a dollar' The statue was constructed in France, shipped o-erseas in crates, and asse+bled on the co+pleted pedestal on what was then called !edloe7s Island' The statue7s co+pletion was +arked by New York7s (irst ticker5tape parade and a dedication cere+ony presided o-er by :resident =ro-er >le-eland' The statue was ad+inistered by the )nited *tates Lighthouse !oard until %?4% and then by the /epart+ent o( @arA since %?BB it has been +aintained by the National :ark *er-ice' The statue was closed (or reno-ation (or +uch o( %?B$' In the early %?$4s, it was (ound to ha-e deteriorated to such an e6tent that a +a2or restoration was re9uired' @hile the statue was closed (ro+ %?$C to %?$&, the torch and a large part o( the internal structure were replaced' .(ter the *epte+ber %% attacks in #44%, it was closed (or reasons o( sa(ety and securityA the pedestal reopened in #44C and the statue in #44?, with li+its on the nu+ber o( -isitors allowed to ascend to the crown' The statue is scheduled to close (or up to a year beginning in late #4%% so that a secondary staircase can be installed' :ublic access to the balcony surrounding the torch has been barred (or sa(ety reasons since %?%&'

Contents
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% /esign and construction o %'% "rigin o %'# /esign, style, and sy+bolis+ o %'B .nnounce+ent and early work o %'C >onstruction in France o %'1 Fundraising, criticis+, and construction in the )nited *tates o %'& /edication # History since dedication o #'% Lighthouse !oard and @ar /epart+ent (%$$&F%?BB) o #'# Garly National :ark *er-ice years (%?BBF%?$#) o #'B ,eno-ation to present (since %?$#) B .ccess and attributes o B'% Location and -isiting

B'# Inscriptions, pla9ues, and dedications B'B :hysical characteristics C /epictions 1 *ee also & ,e(erences 3 !ibliography
o o

$ G6ternal links

Design and construction

Origin
The origin o( the *tatue o( Liberty pro2ect is generally traced to a co++ent +ade by French law pro(essor and politician 0douard ,en de Laboulaye in +id5%$&1' In a(ter5dinner con-ersation at his ho+e near Hersailles, Laboulaye, an ardent supporter o( the )nion in the .+erican >i-il @ar, stated, II( a +onu+ent should rise in the )nited *tates, as a +e+orial to their independence, I should think it only natural i( it were built by united e((ortJa co++on work o( both our nations'ID&E

!artholdi7s design patent Laboulaye7s co++ent was not intended as a proposal, but it inspired a young sculptor, Fr d ric !artholdi, who was present at the dinner'D&E =i-en the repressi-e nature o( the regi+e o( Napoleon III, !artholdi took no i++ediate action on the idea e6cept to discuss it with Laboulaye' Instead, !artholdi approached Is+ail :asha, Khedi-e o( Ggypt, with a plan to build a huge lighthouse in the (or+ o( an ancient Ggyptian (e+ale fellah or peasant, robed and holding a torch alo(t, at the northern entrance to the *ue< >anal in :ort *aid' *ketches and +odels were +ade o( the proposed work, though it was ne-er erected' There was a classical precedent (or the *ue< proposal, the >olossus o( ,hodes: a bron<e statue o( the =reek god o( the sun, Helios' This statue is belie-ed to ha-e been o-er %44 (eet (B4 +) high, and it si+ilarly stood at a harbor entrance and carried a light to guide ships'D3E The .+erican pro2ect was (urther delayed by the Franco5:russian @ar, in which !artholdi ser-ed as a +a2or o( +ilitia'D&E In the war, Napoleon III was captured and deposed' !artholdi7s ho+e pro-ince o( .lsace was lost to the :russians, and a +ore liberal republic was installed in France'D&E .s !artholdi had been planning a trip to the )nited *tates, he and Laboulaye decided

the ti+e was right to discuss the idea with in(luential .+ericans'D$E In ;une %$3%, !artholdi crossed the .tlantic, with letters o( introduction signed by Laboulaye'D?E .rri-ing at New York Harbor, !artholdi (i6ed on !edloe7s Island as a site (or the statue, struck by the (act that -essels arri-ing in New York had to sail past it' He was delighted to learn that the island was owned by the )nited *tates go-ern+entJit had been ceded by the New York *tate Legislature in %$44 (or harbor de(ense' It was thus, as he put it in a letter to Laboulaye, Iland co++on to all the states'ID%4E .s well as +eeting +any in(luential New Yorkers, !artholdi -isited :resident )lysses *' =rant, who assured hi+ that it would not be di((icult to obtain the site (or the statue'D%%E !artholdi crossed the )nited *tates twice by rail, and +et +any .+ericans who+ he (elt would be sy+pathetic to the pro2ect'D?E Howe-er, he re+ained concerned that popular opinion on both sides o( the .tlantic was insu((iciently supporti-e o( the proposal, and he and Laboulaye decided to wait be(ore +ounting a public ca+paign'D%#E

!artholdi7s Lion of Belfort !artholdi had +ade a (irst +odel o( his concept in %$34'D%BE The son o( a (riend o( !artholdi7s, .+erican artist ;ohn La Farge, later +aintained that !artholdi +ade the (irst sketches (or the statue during his )'*' -isit at La Farge7s ,hode Island studio' !artholdi continued to de-elop the concept (ollowing his return to France'D%BE He also worked on a nu+ber o( sculptures designed to bolster French patriotis+ a(ter the de(eat by the :russians' "ne o( these was the Lion of Belfort, a +onu+ental sculpture car-ed in sandstone below the (ortress o( !el(ort, which during the war had resisted a :russian siege (or o-er three +onths' The de(iant lion, 3B (eet (## +) long and hal( that in height, displays an e+otional 9uality characteristic o( ,o+anticis+, which !artholdi would later bring to the *tatue o( Liberty'D%CE

Design, style, and symbolism

/etail (ro+ a (resco by >onstantino !ru+idi in the )'*' >apitol in @ashington, /'>', showing two early sy+bols o( .+erica: >olu+bia (le(t) and the Indian princess !artholdi and Laboulaye considered how best to e6press the idea o( .+erican liberty'D%1E In early .+erican history, two (e+ale (igures were (re9uently used as cultural sy+bols o( the nation'D%&E "ne, >olu+bia, was seen as an e+bodi+ent o( the )nited *tates in the +anner that !ritannia was identi(ied with the )nited Kingdo+ and 8arianne ca+e to represent France' >olu+bia had supplanted the earlier (igure o( an Indian princess, which had co+e to be regarded as unci-ili<ed and derogatory toward .+ericans'D%&E The other signi(icant (e+ale icon in .+erican culture was a representation o( Liberty, deri-ed (ro+ Libertas, the goddess o( (reedo+ widely worshipped in ancient ,o+e, especially a+ong e+ancipated sla-es' . Liberty (igure adorned +ost .+erican coins o( the ti+e,D%1E and representations o( Liberty appeared in popular and ci-ic art, including Tho+as >raw(ord7s Statue of Freedom (%$&B) atop the do+e o( the )nited *tates >apitol !uilding'D%1E The (igure o( Liberty was also depicted on the =reat *eal o( France'D%1E .rtists o( the %$th and %?th centuries stri-ing to e-oke republican ideals co++only used representations o( Liberty'D%1E Howe-er, !artholdi and Laboulaye a-oided an i+age o( re-olutionary liberty such as that depicted in GugLne /elacroi67s (a+ed Liberty Leading the People (%$B4)' In this painting, which co++e+orates France7s ,e-olution o( %$B4, Liberty leads an ar+ed +ob o-er the bodies o( the (allen'D%&E Laboulaye had no sy+pathy (or re-olution, and so !artholdi7s (igure would be (ully dressed in (lowing robes'D%&E Instead o( the i+pression o( -iolence in the /elacroi6 work, !artholdi wished to gi-e the statue a peace(ul appearance and chose a torch, representing progress, (or the (igure to bear'DBE >raw(ord7s statue was designed in the early %$14s' It was originally to be crowned with a pileus, the cap gi-en to e+ancipated sla-es in ancient ,o+e' *ecretary o( @ar ;e((erson /a-is, a *outherner who would later ser-e as president o( the >on(ederate *tates o( .+erica, was concerned that the pileus would be taken as an abolitionist sy+bol' He ordered that it be changed to a hel+et'D%3E /elacroi67s (igure wears a pileus,D%&E and !artholdi at (irst considered placing one on his (igure as well' Instead, he used a diade+, or crown, to top its head'D%$E In so doing, he a-oided a re(erence to 8arianne, who in-ariably wears a pileus'D%?E The se-en rays (or+ a halo or aureole'D#4E They e-oke the sun, the se-en seas, and the se-en continents,D#%E and represent another +eans, besides the torch, whereby Liberty enlightens the world'DBE !artholdi7s early +odels were all si+ilar in concept: a (e+ale (igure in neoclassical style representing liberty, wearing a stola and pella (gown and cloak, co++on in depictions o( ,o+an goddesses) and holding a torch alo(t' The (ace was +odeled a(ter that o( >harlotte !eysser !artholdi, the sculptor7s +other'D##E He designed the (igure with a strong, unco+plicated silhouette, which would be set o(( well by its dra+atic harbor place+ent and allow passengers on -essels entering New York !ay to e6perience a changing perspecti-e on the statue as they proceeded toward 8anhattan' He ga-e it bold classical contours and applied si+pli(ied +odeling, re(lecting the huge scale o( the pro2ect and its sole+n purpose'DBE !artholdi wrote o( his techni9ue:

Tho+as >raw(ord7s Statue of Freedom The sur(aces should be broad and si+ple, de(ined by a bold and clear design, accentuated in the i+portant places' The enlarge+ent o( the details or their +ultiplicity is to be (eared' !y e6aggerating the (or+s, in order to render the+ +ore clearly -isible, or by enriching the+ with details, we would destroy the proportion o( the work' Finally, the +odel, like the design, should ha-e a su++ari<ed character, such as one would gi-e to a rapid sketch' "nly it is necessary that this character should be the product o( -olition and study, and that the artist, concentrating his knowledge, should (ind the (or+ and the line in its greatest si+plicity'D#BE .side (ro+ the change in the statue7s headgear, there were other design alterations as the pro2ect e-ol-ed' !artholdi considered ha-ing Liberty hold a broken chain, but decided this would be too di-isi-e in the days a(ter the >i-il @ar' The erected statue does rise o-er a broken chain, hal(5 hidden by her robes and di((icult to see (ro+ the ground'D%$E !artholdi was initially uncertain o( what to place in Liberty7s le(t handA he settled on a tabula ansata, a keystone5shaped tabletD#CE used to e-oke the concept o( law'D#1E Though !artholdi greatly ad+ired the )nited *tates >onstitution, he chose to inscribe I;)LY IH 8/>>LMMHII on the tablet, thus associating the date o( the country7s /eclaration o( Independence with the concept o( liberty'D#CE >onsultations with the +etalwork (oundry =aget, =authier N >o' led !artholdi to conclude that the skin should be +ade o( copper sheets, beaten to shape by the repouss +ethod'D#&E .n ad-antage o( this choice was that the entire statue would be light (or its -olu+eJthe copper need be only '4?C inches (#'C ++) thick' He decided on a height o( %1% (eet (C& +) (or the statue, double that o( Italy7s >olosso di *an >arlo !orro+eo and the =er+an statue o( .r+inius, both +ade with the sa+e +ethod'D#3E !artholdi interested a (or+er teacher o( his, architect GugLne Hiollet5le5/uc, in the pro2ect' Hiollet5le5/uc planned to construct a brick pier within the statue, to which the skin would be anchored'D#$E

Announcement and early work

In %$31, France was en2oying i+pro-ed political stability and a reco-ering postwar econo+y' =rowing interest in the upco+ing >entennial G6hibition in :hiladelphia led Laboulaye to decide it was ti+e to seek public support'D#?E In *epte+ber %$31, he announced the pro2ect and the

(or+ation o( the Franco5.+erican )nion as its (undraising ar+' @ith the announce+ent, the statue was gi-en a na+e, Liberty Enlightening the World'DB4E The French would (inance the statueA .+ericans would be e6pected to pay (or the pedestal'DB%E The announce+ent pro-oked a generally (a-orable reaction in France, though +any French+en resented the )nited *tates (or not co+ing to their aid during the war with :russia'DB4E French +onarchists opposed the statue, i( (or no other reason than it was proposed by the liberal Laboulaye, who had recently been elected a senator (or li(e'DB%E Laboulaye arranged e-ents designed to appeal to the rich and power(ul, including a special per(or+ance at the :aris "pera on .pril #1, %$3&, that (eatured a new cantata by co+poser >harles =ounod' The piece was titled La Libert clairant le monde, the French -ersion o( the statue7s announced na+e'DB4E

*tereoscopic i+age o( right ar+ and torch o( the *tatue o( Liberty, %$3& >entennial G6position /espite its initial (ocus on the elites, the )nion was success(ul in raising (unds (ro+ across French society' *choolchildren and ordinary citi<ens ga-e, as did %$% French +unicipalities' Laboulaye7s political allies supported the call, as did descendants o( the French contingent in the .+erican ,e-olutionary @ar' Less idealistically, contributions ca+e (ro+ those who hoped (or .+erican support in the French atte+pt to build the :ana+a >anal' The (ir+ o( ;apy FrLres, copper +erchants, donated all the copper needed to build the statue, a gi(t -alued at &C,444 (rancs (about O%&,444 at the ti+e or the e9ui-alent o( OB#B,444 today)'DB#EDBBE The copper is said to ha-e co+e (ro+ a +ine in Hisnes, Norway,DBCE though this has not been conclusi-ely deter+ined'DB1E .lthough plans (or the statue had not been (inali<ed, !artholdi +o-ed (orward with (abrication o( the right ar+, bearing the torch, and the head' @ork began at the =aget, =authier N >o' workshop'DB&E In 8ay %$3&, !artholdi tra-eled to the )nited *tates as a +e+ber o( a French delegation to the >entennial G6hibition,DB3E and arranged (or a huge painting o( the statue to be shown in New York as part o( the >entennial (esti-ities'DB$E The ar+ did not arri-e in :hiladelphia until .ugustA because o( its late arri-al, it was not listed in the e6hibition catalogue, and while so+e reports correctly identi(ied the work, others called it the I>olossal .r+I or I!artholdi Glectric LightI' The e6hibition grounds contained a nu+ber o( +onu+ental artworks to co+pete (or (airgoers7 interest, including an outsi<ed (ountain designed by !artholdi'DB?E Ne-ertheless, the ar+ pro-ed popular in the e6hibition7s waning days, and -isitors would cli+b up to the balcony o( the torch to -iew the (airgrounds'DC4E .(ter the e6hibition closed, the ar+ was transported to New York, where it re+ained on display in 8adison *9uare :ark (or se-eral years be(ore it was returned to France to 2oin the rest o( the statue'DC4E /uring his second trip to the )nited *tates, !artholdi addressed a nu+ber o( groups about the pro2ect, and urged the (or+ation o( .+erican co++ittees o( the Franco5.+erican )nion'DC%E >o++ittees to raise +oney to pay (or the (oundation and pedestal were (or+ed in New York, !oston, and :hiladelphia'DC#E The New York group e-entually took on +ost o( the responsibility (or .+erican (undraising and is o(ten re(erred to as the I.+erican >o++itteeI'DCBE "ne o( its +e+bers was %?5year5old Theodore ,oose-elt, the (uture go-ernor o( New York and president o( the )nited *tates'DC%E "n 8arch B, %$33, on his (inal (ull day in o((ice, :resident =rant signed a 2oint resolution that authori<ed the :resident to accept the statue when it was presented by France and to select a site (or it' :resident ,uther(ord !' Hayes, who took o((ice the (ollowing day, selected the !edloe7s Island site that !artholdi had proposed'DCCE

Construction in France

The statue7s head on e6hibit at the :aris @orld7s Fair, %$3$ "n his return to :aris in %$33, !artholdi concentrated on co+pleting the head, which was e6hibited at the %$3$ :aris @orld7s Fair' Fundraising continued, with +odels o( the statue put on sale' Tickets to -iew the construction acti-ity at the =aget, =authier N >o' workshop were also o((ered'DBBE The French go-ern+ent authori<ed a lotteryA a+ong the pri<es were -aluable sil-er plate and a terracotta +odel o( the statue' !y the end o( %$3?, about #14,444 (rancs had been raised'DC1E The head and ar+ had been built with assistance (ro+ Hiollet5le5/uc, who (ell ill in %$3?' He soon died, lea-ing no indication o( how he intended to transition (ro+ the copper skin to his proposed +asonry pier'DC&E The (ollowing year, !artholdi was able to obtain the ser-ices o( the inno-ati-e designer and builder .le6andre5=usta-e Gi((el'DBBE Gi((el and his structural engineer, 8aurice Koechlin, decided to abandon the pier and instead build an iron truss tower' Gi((el opted not to use a co+pletely rigid structure, which would (orce stresses to accu+ulate in the skin and lead e-entually to cracking' To enable the statue to +o-e slightly in the winds o( New York Harbor and as the +etal e6panded on hot su++er days, he loosely connected the support structure to the skin using an ar+atureJa +etal (ra+ework that ends in a +esh o( +etal straps, known as IsaddlesI, that are ri-eted to the skin, pro-iding (ir+ support' In a labor5intensi-e process, each saddle had to be cra(ted indi-idually'DC3E To pre-ent gal-anic corrosion between the copper skin and the iron support structure, Gi((el insulated the skin with asbestos i+pregnated with shellac'DC$E The change in structural +aterial (ro+ +asonry to iron allowed !artholdi to change his plans (or the statue7s asse+bly' He had originally e6pected to asse+ble the skin on5 site as the +asonry pier was builtA instead he decided to build the statue in France and ha-e it disasse+bled and transported to the )nited *tates (or reasse+bly in place on !edloe7s Island'DC?E Gi((el7s design +ade the statue one o( the earliest e6a+ples o( curtain wall construction, in which the e6terior o( the structure is not load bearing, but is instead supported by an interior (ra+ework' He included two interior spiral staircases, to +ake it easier (or -isitors to reach the obser-ation point in the crown'D14E .ccess to an obser-ation plat(or+ surrounding the torch was also pro-ided, but the narrowness o( the ar+ allowed (or only a single ladder, C4 (eet (%# +) long'D1%E .s the pylon tower arose, Gi((el and !artholdi coordinated their work care(ully so that co+pleted seg+ents o( skin would (it e6actly on the support structure'D1#E In a sy+bolic act, the (irst ri-et placed into the skin, (i6ing a copper plate onto the statue7s big toe, was dri-en by )nited *tates .+bassador to France Le-i :' 8orton'D1BE The skin was not, howe-er, cra(ted in e6act se9uence (ro+ low to highA work proceeded on a nu+ber o( seg+ents

si+ultaneously in a +anner o(ten con(using to -isitors'D1CE *o+e work was per(or+ed by contractorsJone o( the (ingers was +ade to !artholdi7s e6acting speci(ications by a coppers+ith in the southern French town o( 8ontauban'D11E !y %$$#, the statue was co+plete up to the waist, an e-ent !arthodi celebrated by in-iting reporters to lunch on a plat(or+ built within the statue' D1&E Laboulaye died in %$$B' He was succeeded as chair+an o( the French co++ittee by Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder o( the *ue< >anal' The co+pleted statue was (or+ally presented to .+bassador 8orton at a cere+ony in :aris on ;uly C, %$$C, and de Lesseps announced that the French go-ern+ent had agreed to pay (or its transport to New York'D13E The statue re+ained intact in :aris pending su((icient progress on the pedestalA by ;anuary %$$1, this had occurred and the statue was disasse+bled and crated (or its ocean -oyage'D1$E

Fundraising, criticism, and construction in the United States

The co++ittees in the )nited *tates (aced great di((iculties in obtaining (unds' The :anic o( %$3B had led to an econo+ic depression that persisted through +uch o( the decade' The Liberty statue pro2ect was not the only such undertaking that had di((iculty raising +oney: construction o( the obelisk later known as the @ashington 8onu+ent so+eti+es stalled (or yearsA it would ulti+ately take o-er three5and5a5hal( decades to co+plete'D1?E There was criticis+ both o( !artholdi7s statue and o( the (act that the gi(t re9uired .+ericans to (oot the bill (or the pedestal' In the years (ollowing the >i-il @ar, +ost .+ericans pre(erred realistic artworks depicting heroes and e-ents (ro+ the nation7s history, rather than allegorical works like the Liberty statue' D1?E There was also a (eeling that .+ericans should design .+erican public worksJthe selection o( Italian5born >onstantino !ru+idi to decorate the >apitol had pro-oked intense criticis+, e-en though he was a naturali<ed )'*' citi<en'D&4E Harper's Weekly declared its wish that I8' !artholdi and our French cousins had 7gone the whole (igure7 while they were about it, and gi-en us statue and pedestal at once'ID&%E he !e" #ork imes stated that Ino true patriot can countenance any such e6penditures (or bron<e (e+ales in the present state o( our (inances'ID&#E Faced with these criticis+s, the .+erican co++ittees took little action (or se-eral years'D&#E The (oundation o( !artholdi7s statue was to be laid inside Fort @ood, a disused ar+y base on !edloe7s Island constructed between %$43 and %$%%' *ince %$#B, it had rarely been used, though during the >i-il @ar, it had ser-ed as a recruiting station'D&BE The (orti(ications o( the structure were in the shape o( an ele-en5point star' The statue7s (oundation and pedestal were aligned so that it would (ace southeast, greeting ships entering the harbor (ro+ the .tlantic "cean'D&CE In %$$%, the New York co++ittee co++issioned ,ichard 8orris Hunt to design the pedestal' @ithin +onths, Hunt sub+itted a detailed plan, indicating that he e6pected construction to take about nine +onths'D&1E He proposed a pedestal %%C (eet (B1 +) (eet in heightA (aced with +oney proble+s, the co++ittee reduced that to $? (eet (#3 +)'D&&E Hunt7s pedestal design contains ele+ents o( classical architecture, including /oric portals, and the large +ass is (rag+ented with architectural detail to (ocus attention on the statue'D&&E In (or+, it is a truncated pyra+id, &# (eet (%? +) s9uare at the base and B?'C (eet (%#'4 +) at the top' The (our sides are identical in appearance' .bo-e the door on each side, there are ten disks upon which !artholdi proposed to place the coats o( ar+s o( the states (between %$3& and %$$?, there were C4 )'*' states), although this was not done' .bo-e that, a balcony was placed on each side, (ra+ed by pillars' !artholdi placed an obser-ation plat(or+ near the top o( the pedestal, abo-e which the statue itsel( rises'D&3E .ccording to author Louis .uchincloss, the pedestal Icraggily e-okes the power o( an ancient Gurope o-er which rises the do+inating (igure o( the *tatue o( LibertyI'D&&E The co++ittee hired (or+er ar+y =eneral >harles :o+eroy *tone to o-ersee the construction work'D&$E >onstruction on the %15(oot (C'& +) deep (oundation began in %$$B, and the pedestal7s cornerstone was laid in %$$C'D&1E In Hunt7s original conception, the pedestal was to ha-e been +ade o( solid granite' Financial concerns again (orced hi+ to re-ise his plansA the

(inal design called (or poured concrete walls, up to #4 (eet (&'% +) thick, (aced with granite blocks'D&?ED34E The concrete +ass was the largest poured to that ti+e'D34E Fundraising (or the statue had begun in %$$#' The co++ittee organi<ed a large nu+ber o( +oney5raising e-ents'D3%E .s part o( one such e((ort, an auction o( art and +anuscripts, poet G++a La<arus was asked to donate an original work' *he initially declined, stating she could not write a poe+ about a statue' .t the ti+e, she was also in-ol-ed in aiding re(ugees to New York who had (led anti5*e+itic pogro+s in eastern Gurope' These re(ugees were (orced to li-e in conditions that the wealthy La<arus had ne-er e6perienced' *he saw a way to e6press her e+pathy (or these re(ugees in ter+s o( the statue'D3#E The resulting sonnet, IThe New >olossusI, including the iconic lines I=i-e +e your tired, your poorPYour huddled +asses yearning to breathe (reeI, is uni9uely identi(ied with the *tatue o( Liberty and is inscribed on a pla9ue in the +useu+ in the base'D3BE

,ichard 8orris Hunt7s pedestal under construction in ;une %$$1 G-en with these e((orts, (undraising lagged' =ro-er >le-eland, the go-ernor o( New York, -etoed a bill to pro-ide O14,444 (or the statue pro2ect in %$$C' .n atte+pt the ne6t year to ha-e >ongress pro-ide O%44,444, su((icient to co+plete the pro2ect, (ailed when /e+ocratic representati-es would not agree to the appropriation' The New York co++ittee, with only OB,444 in the bank, suspended work on the pedestal' @ith the pro2ect in 2eopardy, groups (ro+ other .+erican cities, including !oston and :hiladelphia, o((ered to pay the (ull cost o( erecting the statue in return (or relocating it'D3CE ;oseph :ulit<er, publisher o( the World, a New York newspaper, announced a dri-e to raise O%44,444 (the e9ui-alent o( O#'B +illion today)'DB#E :ulit<er pledged to print the na+e o( e-ery contributor, no +atter how s+all the a+ount gi-en'D31E The dri-e captured the i+agination o( New Yorkers, especially when :ulit<er began publishing the notes he recei-ed (ro+ contributors' I. young girl alone in the worldI donated I&4 cents, the result o( sel( denial'ID3&E "ne donor ga-e I(i-e cents as a poor o((ice boy7s +ite toward the :edestal Fund'I . group o( children sent a dollar as Ithe +oney we sa-ed to go to the circus with'ID33E .nother dollar was gi-en by a Ilonely and -ery aged wo+an'ID3&E ,esidents o( a ho+e (or alcoholics in New York7s ri-al city o( !rooklyn (the cities would not +erge until %$?$) donated O%1A other drinkers helped out through donation bo6es in bars and saloons'D3$E . kindergarten class in /a-enport, Iowa, +ailed the World a gi(t o( O%'B1'D3&E .s the donations (looded in, the co++ittee resu+ed work on the pedestal'D3?E In ;une, New Yorkers displayed their new5(ound enthusias+ (or the statue, as the French -essel $s%re arri-ed with the crates holding the disasse+bled statue on board' Two hundred thousand people lined the

docks and hundreds o( boats put to sea to welco+e the $s%re'D$4E .(ter (i-e +onths o( daily calls to donate to the statue (und, on .ugust %%, %$$1, the World announced that O%4#,444 had been raised (ro+ %#4,444 donors, and that $4 percent o( the total had been recei-ed in su+s o( less than one dollar'D$%E G-en with the success o( the (und dri-e, the pedestal was not co+pleted until .pril %$$&' I++ediately therea(ter, reasse+bly o( the statue began' Gi((el7s iron (ra+ework was anchored to steel I5bea+s within the concrete pedestal and asse+bled'D$#E "nce this was done, the sections o( skin were care(ully attached'D$BE /ue to the width o( the pedestal, it was not possible to erect sca((olding, and workers dangled (ro+ the ar+ature by ropes while installing the skin sections' Ne-ertheless, no one died during the construction work'D$CE !artholdi had planned to put (loodlights on the torch7s balcony to illu+inate itA a week be(ore the dedication, the .r+y >orps o( Gngineers -etoed the proposal, (earing that ships7 pilots passing the statue would be blinded' Instead, !artholdi cut portholes in the torch and placed the lights inside the+'D$1E . power plant was installed on the island to light the torch and (or other electrical needs'D$&E .(ter the skin was co+pleted, renowned landscape architect Frederick Law "l+stead, designer o( New York7s >entral :ark and !rooklyn7s :rospect :ark, super-ised a cleanup o( !edloe7s Island in anticipation o( the dedication'D$3E

Dedication

&n'eiling of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World (%$$&) by Gdward 8oran' "il on can-as' The ;' >larence /a-ies >ollection, 8useu+ o( the >ity o( New York' . cere+ony o( dedication was held on the a(ternoon o( "ctober #$, %$$&' :resident =ro-er >le-eland, the (or+er New York go-ernor, presided o-er the e-ent'D$$E "n the +orning o( the dedication, a parade was held in New York >ityA esti+ates o( the nu+ber o( people who watched it ranged (ro+ se-eral hundred thousand to a +illion' :resident >le-eland headed the procession, then stood in the re-iewing stand to see bands and +archers (ro+ across .+erica' =eneral *tone was the grand +arshal o( the parade' The route began at 8adison *9uare, once the -enue (or the ar+, and proceeded to !attery :ark at the southern tip o( 8anhattan by way o( Fi(th .-enue and !roadway, with a slight detour so the parade could pass in (ront o( the World building on :ark ,ow' .s the parade passed the New York *tock G6change, traders threw ticker tape (ro+ the windows, beginning the New York tradition o( the ticker5tape parade'D$?E

. nautical parade began at %#:C1 p'+', and :resident >le-eland e+barked on a yacht that took hi+ across the harbor to !edloe7s Island (or the dedication'D?4E /e Lesseps +ade the (irst speech, on behal( o( the French co++ittee, (ollowed by the chair+an o( the New York co++ittee, *enator @illia+ 8' G-arts' . French (lag draped across the statue7s (ace was to be lowered to un-eil the statue at the close o( G-arts7s speech, but !artholdi +istook a pause as the conclusion and let the (lag (all pre+aturely' The ensuing cheers put an end to G-arts7s address'D$?E :resident >le-eland spoke ne6t, stating that the statue7s Istrea+ o( light shall pierce the darkness o( ignorance and +an7s oppression until Liberty enlightens the worldI'D?%E !artholdi, obser-ed near the dais, was called upon to speak, but he re(used' "rator >hauncey 8' /epew concluded the speech+aking with a lengthy address'D?#E No +e+bers o( the general public were per+itted on the island during the cere+onies, which were reser-ed entirely (or dignitaries' The only (e+ales granted access were !artholdi7s wi(e and de Lesseps7s granddaughterA o((icials stated that they (eared wo+en +ight be in2ured in the crush o( people' The restriction o((ended area su((ragists, who chartered a boat and got as close as they could to the island' The group7s leaders +ade speeches applauding the e+bodi+ent o( Liberty as a wo+an and ad-ocating wo+en7s right to -ote'D?%E . scheduled (ireworks display was postponed until No-e+ber % because o( poor weather'D?BE *hortly a(ter the dedication, the >le-eland (a)ette, an .(rican .+erican newspaper, suggested that the statue7s torch not be lit until the )nited *tates beca+e a (ree nation Iin realityI: ILiberty enlightening the worldI, indeedQ The e6pression +akes us sick' This go-ern+ent is a howling (arce' It can not or rather does not protect its citi<ens within its o"n borders' *ho-e the !artholdi statue, torch and all, into the ocean until the IlibertyI o( this country is such as to +ake it possible (or an ino((ensi-e and industrious colored +an to earn a respectable li-ing (or hi+sel( and (a+ily, without being Iku5klu6edI, perhaps +urdered, his daughter and wi(e outraged, and his property destroyed' The idea o( the IlibertyI o( this country Ienlightening the worldI, or e-en :atagonia, is ridiculous in the e6tre+e'D?CE

History since dedication

Lighthouse oard and !ar De"artment #$%%&'$())*

=o-ern+ent poster using the *tatue o( Liberty to pro+ote the sale o( Liberty !onds @hen the torch was illu+inated on the e-ening o( the statue7s dedication, it produced only a (aint glea+, barely -isible (ro+ 8anhattan' The World characteri<ed it as I+ore like a glowwor+ than a beacon'ID$&E !artholdi suggested gilding the statue to increase its ability to re(lect light, but this pro-ed too e6pensi-e' The )nited *tates Lighthouse !oard took o-er the *tatue o( Liberty in %$$3 and pledged to install e9uip+ent to enhance the torch7s e((ectA in spite o( its e((orts, the statue re+ained -irtually in-isible at night' @hen !artholdi returned to the )nited *tates in %$?B, he +ade additional suggestions, all o( which pro-ed ine((ecti-e' He did success(ully lobby (or i+pro-ed lighting within the statue, allowing -isitors to better appreciate Gi((el7s design'D$&E In %?4%, :resident Theodore ,oose-elt, once a +e+ber o( the New York co++ittee, ordered the statue7s trans(er to the @ar /epart+ent, as it had pro-ed useless as a lighthouse'D?1E . unit o( the .r+y *ignal >orps was stationed on !edloe7s Island until %?#B, a(ter which +ilitary police re+ained there while the island was under +ilitary 2urisdiction'D?&E The statue rapidly beca+e a land+ark' 8any i++igrants who entered through New York saw it as a welco+ing sight' "ral histories o( i++igrants record their (eelings o( e6hilaration on (irst -iewing the *tatue o( Liberty' "ne i++igrant who arri-ed (ro+ =reece recalled, I saw the *tatue o( Liberty' .nd I said to +ysel(, ILady, you7re such a beauti(ulQ DsicE You opened your ar+s and you get all the (oreigners here' =i-e +e a chance to pro-e that I a+ worth it, to do so+ething, to be so+eone in .+erica'I .nd always that statue was on +y +ind'D?3E "riginally, the statue was a dull copper color, but shortly a(ter %?44 a green patina, caused by the o6idation o( the copper skin, began to spread' .s early as %?4# it was +entioned in the pressA by %?4& it had entirely co-ered the statue'D?$E In the belie( that the patina was e-idence o( corrosion, >ongress authori<ed O&#,$44 to paint the statue both inside and out'D??E There was considerable public protest against the proposed e6terior painting'D%44E The .r+y >orps o( Gngineers studied the patina (or any ill e((ects to the statue and concluding that it protected the skin, Iso(tened the outlines o( the *tatue and +ade it beauti(ul'ID%4%E The statue was painted only on the inside' The >orps o( Gngineers also installed an ele-ator to take -isitors (ro+ the base to the top o( the pedestal'D%4%E

!edloe7s Island in %?#3, showing the statue and ar+y buildings' The ele-en5pointed walls o( Fort @ood, which still (or+ the statue7s base, are -isible' "n ;uly B4, %?%&, during @orld @ar I, =er+an saboteurs set o(( a disastrous e6plosion on the !lack To+ peninsula in ;ersey >ity, New ;ersey, in what is now part o( Liberty *tate :ark, close to !edloe7s Island' >arloads o( dyna+ite and other e6plosi-es that were being sent to !ritain and France (or their war e((orts were detonated, and se-en people were killed' The statue sustained +inor da+age, +ostly to the torch5bearing right ar+, and was closed (or ten days' The cost to repair the statue and buildings on the island was about O%44,444' The narrow ascent to the torch was closed (or public sa(ety reasons, and it has re+ained closed e-er since'D?#E That sa+e year, ,alph :ulit<er, who had succeeded his (ather ;oseph as publisher o( the World, began a dri-e to raise OB4,444 (or an e6terior lighting syste+ to illu+inate the statue at night' He clai+ed o-er $4,444 contributors but (ailed to reach the goal' The di((erence was 9uietly +ade up by a gi(t (ro+ a wealthy donorJa (act that was not re-ealed until %?B&' .n underwater power cable brought electricity (ro+ the +ainland and (loodlights were placed along the walls o( Fort @ood' =ut<on !orglu+, who later sculpted 8ount ,ush+ore, redesigned the torch, replacing +uch o( the original copper with stained glass' "n /ece+ber #, %?%&, :resident @oodrow @ilson pressed the telegraph key that turned on the lights, success(ully illu+inating the statue'
D%4#E

.(ter the )nited *tates entered @orld @ar I in %?%3, i+ages o( the statue were hea-ily used in both recruit+ent posters and the Liberty !ond dri-es that urged .+erican citi<ens to support the war (inancially' This i+pressed upon the public the war7s stated purposeJto secure libertyJand ser-ed as a re+inder that e+battled France had gi-en the )nited *tates the statue'D%4BE In %?#C, :resident >al-in >oolidge used his authority under the .nti9uities .ct to declare the statue a national +onu+ent'D?1E The only success(ul suicide in the statue7s history occurred (i-e years later, when a +an cli+bed out o( one o( the windows in the crown and 2u+ped to his death, glancing o(( the statue7s breast and landing by her (eet'D%4CE

+arly ,ational -ark Ser.ice years #$())'$(%/*

*epte+ber #&, %?3#: :resident ,ichard Ni6on -isits the statue to open the .+erican 8useu+ o( I++igration' The statue7s raised right (oot is -isible, showing that it is depicted +o-ing (orward' In %?BB, :resident Franklin ,oose-elt ordered the statue trans(erred to the National :ark *er-ice (N:*)' In %?B3, the N:* gained 2urisdiction o-er the rest o( !edloe7s Island'D?1E @ith the .r+y7s departure, the N:* began to trans(or+ the island into a park'D%41E The @orks :rogress .d+inistration (@:.) de+olished +ost o( the old buildings, regraded and reseeded the eastern end o( the island, and built granite steps (or a new public entrance to the statue (ro+ its rear' The @:. also carried out restoration work within the statue, te+porarily re+o-ing the rays (ro+ the statue7s halo so their rusted supports could be replaced' ,usted cast5iron steps in the pedestal were replaced with new ones +ade o( rein(orced concreteAD%4&E the upper parts o( the stairways within the statue were replaced, as well' >opper sheathing was installed to pre-ent (urther da+age (ro+ rainwater that had been seeping into the pedestal'D%43E The statue was closed to the public (ro+ 8ay until /ece+ber %?B$'D%4&E /uring @orld @ar II, the statue re+ained open to -isitors, although it was not illu+inated at night due to warti+e blackouts' It was lit brie(ly on /ece+ber B%, %?CB, and on /5/ay, ;une &, %?CC, when its lights (lashed Idot5dot5dot5dash,I the 8orse code (or H, (or -ictory' New, power(ul lighting was installed in %?CCF%?C1, and beginning on H5G /ay, the statue was once again illu+inated a(ter sunset' The lighting was (or only a (ew hours each e-ening, and it was not until %?13 that the statue was illu+inated e-ery night, all night'D%4$E In %?C&, the interior o( the statue within reach o( -isitors was coated with a special plastic so that gra((iti could be washed away'D%43E In %?1&, an act o( >ongress o((icially rena+ed !edloe7s Island as Liberty Island, a change ad-ocated by !artholdi generations earlier' The act also +entioned the e((orts to (ound an .+erican 8useu+ o( I++igration on the island, which backers took as (ederal appro-al o( the pro2ect, though the go-ern+ent was slow to grant (unds (or it'D%4?E Nearby Gllis Island was +ade part o( the *tatue o( Liberty National 8onu+ent by procla+ation o( :resident Lyndon ;ohnson in %?&1'D?1E In %?3#, the i++igration +useu+, in the statue7s base, was (inally opened in a cere+ony led by :resident ,ichard Ni6on' The +useu+7s backers ne-er pro-ided it with an endow+ent to secure its (uture, and it closed in %??% a(ter the opening o( an i++igration +useu+ on Gllis Island'D$#E . power(ul new lighting syste+ was installed in ad-ance o( the .+erican !icentennial in %?3&' The statue was the (ocal point (or "peration *ail, a regatta o( tall ships (ro+ all o-er the world

that entered New York Harbor on ;uly C, %?3&, and sailed around Liberty Island'D%%4E The day concluded with a spectacular display o( (ireworks near the statue'D%%%E

0eno.ation to "resent #since $(%/*

*ee also: Liberty @eekend

;uly C, %?$&: First Lady Nancy ,eagan (in red) reopens the statue to the public' The statue was e6a+ined in great detail by French and .+erican engineers as part o( the planning (or its centennial in %?$&'D%%#E In %?$#, it was announced that the statue was in need o( considerable restoration' >are(ul study had re-ealed that the right ar+ had been i+properly attached to the +ain structure' It was swaying +ore and +ore when strong winds blew and there was a signi(icant risk o( structural (ailure' In addition, the head had been installed # (eet (4'&% +) o(( center, and one o( the rays was wearing a hole in the right ar+ when the statue +o-ed in the wind' The ar+ature structure was badly corroded, and about two percent o( the e6terior plates needed to be replaced'D%%BE .lthough proble+s with the ar+ature had been recogni<ed as early as %?B&, when cast iron replace+ents (or so+e o( the bars had been installed, +uch o( the corrosion had been hidden by layers o( paint applied o-er the years'D%%CE In 8ay %?$#, :resident ,onald ,eagan announced the (or+ation o( the *tatue o( LibertyFGllis Island >entennial >o++ission, led by >hrysler >orporation chair Lee Iacocca, to raise the (unds needed to co+plete the work'D%%1E Through its (undraising ar+, the *tatue o( LibertyFGllis Island Foundation, Inc', the group raised +ore than OB14 +illion in donations'D%%&E The *tatue o( Liberty was one o( the earliest bene(iciaries o( a cause +arketing ca+paign' . %?$B pro+otion ad-ertised that (or each purchase +ade with an .+erican G6press card, the co+pany would contribute one cent to the reno-ation o( the statue' The ca+paign generated contributions o( O%'3 +illion to the restoration pro2ect'D%%3E In %?$C, the statue was closed to the public (or the duration o( the reno-ation' @orkers erected sca((olding that obscured the statue (ro+ -iew' Li9uid nitrogen was used to re+o-e layers o( paint that had been applied to the interior o( the copper skin o-er decades, lea-ing two layers o( coal tar, originally applied to plug leaks and pre-ent corrosion' !lasting with baking soda powder re+o-ed the tar without (urther da+aging the copper'D%%$E The restorers7 work was

ha+pered by the asbestos5based substance that !artholdi had used (ine((ecti-ely, as inspections showed) to pre-ent gal-anic corrosion' @orkers within the statue had to wear protecti-e gear, dubbed I+oon suitsI, with sel(5contained breathing circuits'D%%?E Larger holes in the copper skin were repaired, and new copper was added where necessary'D%#4E The replace+ent skin was taken (ro+ a copper roo(top at !ell Labs, which had a patina that closely rese+bled the statue7sA in e6change, the laboratory was pro-ided so+e o( the old copper skin (or testing'D%#%E The torch, (ound to ha-e been leaking water since the %?%& alterations, was replaced with an e6act replica o( !artholdi7s unaltered torch'D%##E >onsideration was gi-en to replacing the ar+ and shoulderA the National :ark *er-ice insisted that they be repaired instead'D%#BE

*epte+ber %%, #44%: The twin towers o( the @orld Trade >enter burn with the *tatue o( Liberty in the (oreground' The entire ar+ature was replaced' The puddled iron bars used by Gi((el were gradually re+o-ed' The new bars that attach to the pylon are +ade o( low5carbon corrosion5resistant stainless steel' The bars that now hold the staples ne6t to the skin are +ade o( (erraliu+, an alloy that bends slightly and returns to its original shape as the statue +o-es'D%#CE To pre-ent the ray and ar+ +aking contact, the ray was realigned by se-eral degrees'D%#1E The lighting was again replacedJ night5ti+e illu+ination now co+es (ro+ +etal halide la+ps that send bea+s o( light to particular parts o( the pedestal or statue, showing o(( -arious details'D%#&E .ccess to the pedestal, which had been through a nondescript entrance built in the %?&4s, was reno-ated to create a wide opening (ra+ed by a set o( +onu+ental bron<e doors with designs sy+bolic o( the reno-ation' D%#3E . +odern ele-ator was installed, allowing handicapped access to the obser-ation area o( the pedestal'D%#$E .n e+ergency ele-ator was installed within the statue, reaching up to the le-el o( the shoulder'D%#?E ;uly BF&, %?$&, was designated ILiberty @eekendI, +arking the centennial o( the statue and its reopening' :resident ,eagan presided o-er the rededication, with French :resident FranRois 8itterrand in attendance' ;uly C saw a reprise o( "peration *ail,D%B4E and the statue was reopened to the public on ;uly 1'D%B%E In ,eagan7s dedication speech, he stated, I@e are the keepers o( the (la+e o( libertyA we hold it high (or the world to see'ID%B4E Following the *epte+ber %% attacks, the statue and Liberty Island were i++ediately closed to the public' The island reopened at the end o( #44%, while the pedestal and statue re+ained o((5 li+its' The pedestal reopened in .ugust #44C,D%B%E but the National :ark *er-ice announced that -isitors could not sa(ely be gi-en access to the statue due to the di((iculty o( e-acuation in an e+ergency' The :ark *er-ice adhered to that position through the re+ainder o( the !ush ad+inistration'D%B#E New York >ongress+an .nthony /' @einer +ade the statue7s reopening a personal crusade'D%BBE "n 8ay %3, #44?, :resident !arack "ba+a7s *ecretary o( the Interior, Ken *ala<ar, announced that as a Ispecial gi(tI to .+erica, the statue would be reopened to the public as o( ;uly C, but that only a li+ited nu+ber o( people would be per+itted to ascend to the crown each day'D%B#E The statue is scheduled to close in late #4%% (or nine +onths to a year so a secondary staircase can be installed to aid in e+ergency e-acuation'D%BCE

Access and attributes

Location and .isiting

Tourists aboard a >ircle Line (erry bound (or Liberty Island, ;une %?3B The statue is situated in )pper New York !ay on Liberty Island, south o( Gllis Island' !oth islands were ceded by New York to the (ederal go-ern+ent in %$44'D%B1E .s agreed in an %$BC co+pact between New York and New ;ersey that set the state border at the bay7s +idpoint, the original islands re+ain New York territory despite their location on the New ;ersey side o( the state line' Land created by recla+ation at Gllis is New ;ersey territory'D%B&E Gntrance to the *tatue o( Liberty National 8onu+ent is (ree, but there is a charge (or the (erry ser-ice that all -isitors +ust use, as pri-ate boats +ay not dock at the island' . concession was granted in #443 to *tatue >ruises to operate the transportation and ticketing (acilities, replacing >ircle Line, which had operated the ser-ice since %?1B'D%B3E The (erries, which depart (ro+ Liberty *tate :ark in ;ersey >ity and !attery :ark in Lower 8anhattan, also stop at Gllis Island, +aking a co+bined trip possible'D%B$E .long with the (erry ticket, -isitors intending to enter the statue7s base and pedestal +ust obtain a co+pli+entary +useu+Ppedestal ticket'D#1E Those wishing to cli+b the staircase within the statue to the crown +ust purchase a special ticket, which +ay be reser-ed up to a year in ad-ance' . total o( #C4 people per day are per+itted to ascend: ten per group, three groups per hour' >li+bers +ay bring only +edication and ca+eras Jlockers are pro-ided (or other ite+sJand +ust undergo a second security screening'D#1E

1nscri"tions, "la2ues, and dedications

:la9ue honoring poet G++a La<arus, with the te6t o( IThe New >olossusI There are se-eral pla9ues and dedicatory tablets on or near the *tatue o( Liberty' . pla9ue on the copper 2ust under the (igure7s (eet declares that it is a colossal statue representing Liberty, designed by !artholdi and built by the :aris (ir+ o( =aget, =authier et >ie (*ie is the French abbre-iation analogous to *o+)' . presentation tablet, also bearing !artholdi7s na+e, declares the statue to be a gi(t (ro+ the people o( the ,epublic o( France that honors Ithe .lliance o( the two

Nations in achie-ing the Independence o( the )nited *tates o( .+erica and attests their abiding (riendship'ID%B?E There is a tablet placed by the New York co++ittee that co++e+orates the (undraising done to build the pedestal' The cornerstone also bears a pla9ue, placed by the Free+asons'D%B?E In %?4B, a bron<e tablet that bears the te6t o( IThe New >olossusI and co++e+orates G++a La<arus was presented by (riends o( the poet' )ntil the %?$& reno-ation, it was +ounted inside the pedestalA today it resides in the *tatue o( Liberty 8useu+ in the base' It is acco+panied by a tablet gi-en by the G++a La<arus >o++e+orati-e >o++ittee in %?33, celebrating the poet7s li(e'D%B?E . group o( statues stands at the western end o( the island, honoring those closely associated with the *tatue o( Liberty' Two .+ericansJ:ulit<er and La<arusJand three French+enJ!artholdi, Laboulaye, and Gi((elJare depicted' They are the work o( 8aryland sculptor :hillip ,atner'D%C4E In %?$C, the *tatue o( Liberty was designated a )NG*>" @orld Heritage *ite' The )NG*>" I*tate+ent o( *igni(icanceI describes the statue as a I+asterpiece o( the hu+an spiritI that Iendures as a highly potent sy+bolJinspiring conte+plation, debate and protestJo( ideals such as liberty, peace, hu+an rights, abolition o( sla-ery, de+ocracy and opportunity'ID%C%E

-hysical characteristics

.s -iewed (ro+ the ground on Liberty Island Feature3&45 Height o( copper statue Foundation o( pedestal (ground le-el) to tip o( torch Heel to top o( head Length o( hand Inde6 (inger >ircu+(erence at second 2oint Head (ro+ chin to craniu+ Head thickness (ro+ ear to ear /istance across the eye Length o( nose ,ight ar+ length ,ight ar+ greatest thickness Thickness o( waist @idth o( +outh Tablet, length Tablet, width Tablet, thickness Height o( pedestal Height o( (oundation @eight o( copper used in statue @eight o( steel used in statue Total weight o( statue Thickness o( copper sheeting

U6S6 7etric %1% (t % in C& + B41 (t % in ?B + %%% (t % in BC + %& (t 1 in 1+ $ (t % in #'CC + B (t & in %'43 + %3 (t B in 1'#& + %4 (t 4 in B'41 + # (t & in 4'3& + C (t & in %'C$ + C# (t 4 in %#'$ + %# (t 4 in B'&& + B1 (t 4 in %4'&3 + B (t 4 in 4'?% + #B (t 3 in 3'%? + %B (t 3 in C'%C + # (t 4 in 4'&% + $? (t 4 in #3'%B + &1 (t 4 in %?'$% + &4,444 pounds #3'## +etric tonnes #14,444 pounds %%B'C +etric tonnes C14,444 pounds #4C'% +etric tonnes BPB# o( an inch #'C ++

De"ictions
8ain articles: *tatue o( Liberty in popular culture and ,eplicas o( the *tatue o( Liberty

. replica o( the *tatue o( Liberty (or+s part o( the e6terior decor at the New York5New York Hotel N >asino in Las Hegas, Ne-ada' Hundreds o( replicas o( the *tatue o( Liberty are displayed worldwide'D%C#E . s+aller -ersion o( the original statue, one5(i(th the height o( the original, was gi-en by the .+erican co++unity in :aris to that city' It now stands on the Sle des >ygnes, (acing west toward her larger sister'D%C#E . replica B4 (eet (?'% +) tall stood atop the Liberty @arehouse on @est &Cth *treet in 8anhattan (or +any yearsAD%C#E it now resides at the !rooklyn 8useu+'D%CBE In a patriotic tribute, the !oy *couts o( .+erica, as part o( their *trengthen the .r+ o( Liberty ca+paign in %?C?F%?1#, donated about two hundred replicas o( the statue, +ade o( sta+ped copper and %44 inches (#,144 ++) in height, to states and +unicipalities across the )nited *tates'D%CCE Though not a true replica, the statue known as the =oddess o( /e+ocracy te+porarily erected during the

Tianan+en *9uare protests o( %?$? was si+ilarly inspired by French de+ocratic traditionsJthe sculptors took care to a-oid a direct i+itation o( the *tatue o( Liberty'D%4&E .+ong other recreations o( New York >ity structures, a replica o( the statue is part o( the e6terior o( the New York5New York Hotel N >asino in Las Hegas, Ne-ada'D%C1E

%?3% )'*' air+ail sta+p depicting the head o( the *tatue o( Liberty

,e-erse side o( a :residential /ollar coin .s an .+erican icon, the *tatue o( Liberty has long been depicted on the country7s sta+ps and coinage' It appeared on co++e+orati-e coins issued to +ark its %?$& centennial, and on New York7s #44% entry in the state 9uarters series'D%C&E .n i+age o( the statue was chosen (or the .+erican Gagle platinu+ bullion coins in %??3, and it appears on the re-erse, or ItailsI, side o( the currently issued series o( :residential /ollar circulating coins'D#%E Two i+ages o( the statue7s torch appear on the current ten5dollar bill'D%C3E /epictions o( the statue ha-e been used by +any regional institutions, as well' !etween %?$& and #444, New York *tate issued license plates (eaturing the statue'D%C$ED%C?E The @o+en7s National !asketball .ssociation7s New York Liberty use both the statue7s na+e and its i+age in their logo, in which the torch7s (la+e doubles as a basketball'D%14E The New York ,angers o( the National Hockey League depicted the statue7s head on their third 2ersey, beginning in %??3'D%1%E The National >ollegiate .thletic .ssociation7s %??& 8en7s !asketball Final Four, played at New ;ersey7s 8eadowlands *ports >o+ple6, (eatured the statue in its logo'D%1#E The statue is a (re9uent sub2ect in popular culture' In +usic, it has been e-oked to indicate support (or .+erican policies, as in Toby Keith7s song I>ourtesy o( the ,ed, @hite, N !lue (The .ngry .+erican)I, and in opposition, appearing on the co-er o( The /ead Kennedys7 albu+ Bedtime for ,emocracy, which protested the ,eagan ad+inistration7s policies'D%1BE In the +o-ies, the torch is the setting (or the cli+a6 o( director .l(red Hitchcock7s %?C# (il+ Saboteur' D%1CE The statue +akes one o( its +ost (a+ous cine+atic appearances in the %?&$ picture Planet of the -pes, in which it is seen hal(5buried in sand'D%1BED%11E It is destroyed in the science5(iction (il+s $ndependence ,ay, he ,ay -fter omorro", and *lo'erfield'D%1BE In ;ack Finney7s ti+e5tra-el no-el ime and -gain, the right ar+ o( the statue, on display in the early %$$4s in 8adison

*9uare :ark, plays a crucial role'D%1&E ,obert Holdstock, consulting editor o( he Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, wondered in %?3?: @here would Dscience (ictionE be without the *tatue o( LibertyT For decades it has towered or cru+bled abo-e the wastelands o( deserted DGEarthJgiants ha-e uprooted it, aliens ha-e (ound it curious ''' the sy+bol o( Liberty, o( opti+is+, has beco+e a sy+bol o( science (iction7s pessi+istic -iew o( the (uture'ID%13E