The Story Behind The Statue Of Liberty

We've all seen her before, either you visited New York City or you seen her picture in one of many places. Liberty Enlightening the World is her name and it was gift from France that is still appreciated today.

The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor were it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans. The copper-clad lady was dedicated to the US on October 28, 1886 President Grover Cleveland in front of thousands of spectators. The statue commemorates the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and is a gesture of friendship from France to the United States.

The first model, on a small scale, was built in 1870. This first statue is now in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. A second model, also on a small scale, was further brought to Maceió, a city in the Northeast of Brazil. This model is in front of Maceió's first city hall, built in 1869, which is now a museum.

The statue arrived in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885 on board the French frigate Isère. The Statue had to be reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates which was stored for eleven months waiting for its pedestal to be finished, was then re-assembled in four months.


Lady Liberty holds the torch of freedom in her right arm and a stone tablet in her left. The tablet contains the date July 4, 1776, which acknowledges and commemorates the American Declaration of Independence. The torch represents a burning passion for freedom and contains a flame that is coated in gold leaf. The broken shackles at the base of Lady Liberty's feet represent freedom from oppression.

The Statue of Liberty also functioned as a lighthouse from 1886 to 1902. At that time the U.S. Lighthouse board was responsible for its operation and the electric light could of been seen for over 24 miles (39 km) at sea.

In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was added to the list of World Heritage Sites and in 2007, the Statue of Liberty was one of 20 finalists in a competition to name the New Seven Wonders of the World.