| The Statute of Liberty is a monument located in the | | | | decided what the gift from France would be. His first |
| harbor of New York City. It was presented to the | | | | model, completed in 1870, was only small and is |
| United States by the people of France in 1886 and | | | | presently on display in the Jardin de Luxembourg in |
| became a symbol of liberty for all the immigrants | | | | Paris. The American people built the base and the |
| coming to the country. The purpose of the gift was to | | | | French people built the sculpture and took responsibility |
| celebrate the centennial of the US as an independent | | | | for shipping it to New York. Delays prevented the |
| country. The statue is that of a woman dressed in | | | | statue from being presented on the date of the |
| robes and holding a lit flame. It is made of sheet | | | | centennial, but the arm and the torch were completed |
| copper and is hung on a steel framework. The flame | | | | so that at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in |
| of the torch is coated in gold leaf. It is one of the | | | | 1876, these pieces were displayed. Visitors paid 50 |
| symbols of the United States that is recognized all | | | | cents to climb a tall ladder and view these parts of the |
| over the world as a symbol of a country to which | | | | structure. |
| people fled to escape persecution and oppression. | | | | |
| | | | | The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor on |
| The interior of the statue is open to visitors. You have | | | | July 17, 1885. It was reduced to 350 pieces and |
| to take a ferry from either Liberty Park in New Jersey | | | | shipped in 214 crates. Once it arrived, the statue then |
| or Battery Park in New York to reach the location of | | | | had to be put back together. The final construction of |
| the statue. Although they are no longer in operation, at | | | | the pedestal was completed on April 22, 1886. During |
| one time visitors could climb the circular staircase | | | | the time between this completion and its arrival, the |
| consisting of 354 steps. About 30 people at a time can | | | | statue was kept in storage. It took four months to |
| fit into the crown, which has 25 windows offering a | | | | reassemble the pieces and was unveiled on October |
| panoramic view of the harbor. These windows are | | | | 22, 1886. |
| meant to represent the jewels in the diadem. There is | | | | |
| also a tablet on the statue that reads July 4, 1776, | | | | For the first few years, the Statue of Liberty |
| which is the date the United States became an | | | | functioned as a lighthouse. In 1910, floodlights were |
| independent nation. The statue itself is designed so that | | | | placed around the base. The Black Tom Explosion of |
| it can withstand extreme weather conditions, especially | | | | 1916 caused about $100,00 damage to the statue. This |
| wind. In windy conditions, the statue will sway, rather | | | | led to closing the stairs to visitors. Modifications and |
| than break. | | | | repairs were made and it was rededicated by |
| | | | | President Roosevelt on the 50th anniversary of its |
| The French sculptor, Frederic Bartholdi, was | | | | unveiling. |
| commissioned to create this monument when it was | | | | |