Statue of Liberty was a gift from France on the centenary year of independence of United States. It
stand as a symbol of international recognition for the establishment of principles of freedom and
democracy in the United States. Inaugurated in 1886, this towering monument to freedom is
considered as the most recognizable symbol of democracy and icon of United States. It also reminds
the friendship established between France and United States during American civil war.
Statue of Liberty stand as a bridge between art and Engineering. This marvelous work is a fine
example of the powerful collaboration between the French sculptor Bartholdi and engineer Gustave
Eiffel. Fashioned in Greco -Roman art style, the statue resembles the Roman goddess of freedom
Libertas .The intellectual creator behind this world renowned work is Édouard René Lefèbvre de
laboulaye, a French jurist, poet, author and anti-slavery activist. The statue reminds the victory of
Union in the American civil war and ending of the slavery . .
Statue of Liberty welcomed immigrants to the United States by standing at the entrance to NewYork
harbor in Upper NewYork Bay on Liberty Island south of Ellis Island,. Ellis Island was the busiest
immigration station in the United States from 1892 until 1954. Between 1840 and 1880, 9,438,000
foreigners landed in the United States and in 1880 and 1914, the number of immigrants reached
22,000,000. Many of the ancestors of the present day inhabitants of United States came through
this Island seeking freedom and to find a better life. The archives kept here is a valuable source of
information for those Americans searching their family history.
Manhattan, New York and is surrounded by the waters of Jersey City, New Jersey. Liberty Island is
2,000 feet (610 m) east of Liberty State Park in Jersey City and is 1.58 statute miles (2.6 kilometers)
southwest of Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Visitors have to be prepared for an airport type
stringent security check before getting to the ferry and also at the entrance to the statue.
stringent security check before getting to the ferry and also at the entrance to the statue.
Public access is permitted only by ferries from either of the two parks, which serve the national
monument, also stopping at Ellis Island. Hornblower Cruises and Events, operating under the name
Statue Cruises, holds the exclusive concession for ferry service to and from the island. Ferry boats
depart daily at an interval of approximately every 15 minutes from New York City's Battery Park on
the southern tip of Manhattan and Liberty State Park. Please check for the Battery Park & Liberty
State Park ferry schedules in the site of statue cruises .
depart daily at an interval of approximately every 15 minutes from New York City's Battery Park on
the southern tip of Manhattan and Liberty State Park. Please check for the Battery Park & Liberty
State Park ferry schedules in the site of statue cruises .
The statue was constructed in France, shipped overseas in crates, and assembled on the completed
pedestal. The French ship "Isere" transported all the 300 copper pieces in 241 crates in 1885. The
151 feet tall statue with a 46 m long torch , stands on a 65 foot concrete and granite pedestal upon
a courtyard, shaped like an 11-pointed star. The Statue of Liberty also served as a light house from
1886 to 1901 and was administered by war department till 1933.
151 feet tall statue with a 46 m long torch , stands on a 65 foot concrete and granite pedestal upon
a courtyard, shaped like an 11-pointed star. The Statue of Liberty also served as a light house from
1886 to 1901 and was administered by war department till 1933.
"Liberty Enlightening the world" is the full title of the Statue. The statue is a hollow colossus
constructed using Repousse technique in which a malleable metal (here copper) is ornamented or
shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. The statue is dressed in
an ancient Greco-Roman Pala and stolla, the clothing that goddesses and free people wore in ancient Greece or Rome.
constructed using Repousse technique in which a malleable metal (here copper) is ornamented or
shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. The statue is dressed in
an ancient Greco-Roman Pala and stolla, the clothing that goddesses and free people wore in ancient Greece or Rome.
Visitors must climb 354 steps up the narrow winding staircase to reach the Statue of Liberty's crown
(or take an elevator to a lower lookout point). There are places to move out of stairwell and stop on
the way up and have a quick rest.There are 25 windows in Lady Liberty's crown. A 40 feet ladder
leads to the torch, but no visitors are allowed access to the balcony surrounding the torch; that
stopped in 1916 for "safety reasons" after the ‘Black Tom’ explosion by Germany during world war1
(or take an elevator to a lower lookout point). There are places to move out of stairwell and stop on
the way up and have a quick rest.There are 25 windows in Lady Liberty's crown. A 40 feet ladder
leads to the torch, but no visitors are allowed access to the balcony surrounding the torch; that
stopped in 1916 for "safety reasons" after the ‘Black Tom’ explosion by Germany during world war1
The statue is suspended from a steel frame work covered with copper sheets with a thickness of
3/32of an inch. Bartholdi recruited French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel to build a skeleton for
his statue. Eiffel designed a massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework, which allows the
Statue's copper skin to move independently- yet stand upright. This flexibility is needed to allow the
Statue to sway in the sometimes violent harbor winds. The armature bars connect the copper skin to
the framework of the statue.
3/32of an inch. Bartholdi recruited French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel to build a skeleton for
his statue. Eiffel designed a massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework, which allows the
Statue's copper skin to move independently- yet stand upright. This flexibility is needed to allow the
Statue to sway in the sometimes violent harbor winds. The armature bars connect the copper skin to
the framework of the statue.
From up top, visitor can peer through any of the 25 windows made of pexiglass adoring the
crown, to get a view of the harbor, a glimpse of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Verrazano Bridge
and Staten Island and also the prominent landmarks of Empire State building to the north west and
the Brooklyn Bridge to the north east.
When you look out the crown you can see the Declaration of Independence the statue is holding, a
close up of her arm with Roman Numerals July 4 1776 (JULY IV. MDCCLXXVI )on a tablet in the
shape of a keystone having a size of 23ft 7 in. The crown has seven spikes which represent either the
sun rays, seven oceans or the seven continents. The original copper color of the statue was lost due to
the oxidation of copper with air which made a coating called Patina making the statue green colored .
sun rays, seven oceans or the seven continents. The original copper color of the statue was lost due to
the oxidation of copper with air which made a coating called Patina making the statue green colored .
Due to structural damage, the original torch of the Statue of Liberty, constructed in 1876 was
taken down in 1984 and is now displayed at the monument’s lobby. The new copper torch is
A museum is functioning on the first floor , where you can find a small tactile model of the Statue,
a replica of the face of the statue, a replica of the Statue’s left foot , a tactile model of the liberty
island and some models Bartholdi tried before his final project. The chains and shackles on the foot
of the statue which are not otherwise visible to the public can be seen in the model . Gift shops and
rest rooms are also available on the first floor.
The UNESCO ‘Statement of Significance’ describes the statue as a ‘masterpiece of the human
covered with 24k gold leaf. There is a basket that surround the flame which is a symbolic
representation of Native American past including spearheads and corns, which is an American
staple crop.
Fundraising for the statue was difficult in United States compared to France. French financed the
statue while Americans were expected to pay for the pedestal. Some of the money to erect the statue
was contributed by American school children. When the American Committee for the Statue of
Liberty ran out of funds for the Statue's pedestal, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer came to the
rescue by request for donations through his newspaper New York World and raised over $100,000.
There is a sculpture garden located on the walkway behind the colossal statue. The sculptures of five
important people with greater contribution for making the statue of Liberty a reality, is displayed
here. They include Alexandre Gustave Eiffel holding the Eiffel Tower in his Hand, Édouard René
Lefèbvre de Laboulaye, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, Joseph Pulitzer and Emma Lazarus. Emma
was an American poet who donated her poem "The Colossus" that talk about the millions of
immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island. It was auctioned to raise the fund to
was an American poet who donated her poem "The Colossus" that talk about the millions of
immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island. It was auctioned to raise the fund to
build the pedestal. In 1903 the sonnet is engraved in a bronze plaque and mounted inside the Statue.
A museum is functioning on the first floor , where you can find a small tactile model of the Statue,
a replica of the face of the statue, a replica of the Statue’s left foot , a tactile model of the liberty
island and some models Bartholdi tried before his final project. The chains and shackles on the foot
of the statue which are not otherwise visible to the public can be seen in the model . Gift shops and
rest rooms are also available on the first floor.
A symbolic feature that people cannot see is the broken chain wrapped around the Statue's feet.
Protruding from the bottom of her robe, the broken chains symbolize her free forward movement,
enlightening the world with her torch free from oppression and servitude. It also symbolize the
escape of Americans from the clutches of British tyranny while some others relate it to the
emancipation of enslaved Africans in America at the end of American civil war.
emancipation of enslaved Africans in America at the end of American civil war.
The UNESCO ‘Statement of Significance’ describes the statue as a ‘masterpiece of the human
spirit’ that ‘endures as a highly potent symbol—inspiring contemplation, debate and protest—of
ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy and opportunity’. Two
images of the statue's torch can be find on the current 10 dollar bill. The statue is also featured in
many famous movies and a favorite subject in video games. Freedom is not standing still. The lady
is also seen in raising her foot and moving towards a new free era.
Location: Liberty Island, Manhattan, New York
Cameras Used :-Canon Power shot A490, Canon Power Shot SD 400, Nikon DSLR (Arasu)
Note: Advanced Booking of Ticket can avoid long queues.
The time on the ticket indicated when one should board the ferry.
Good write-up renjana
ReplyDeletethanks sijith
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