Some Facts about Statue of Liberty

New Colossus and its famous last lines have become part of American history. Here is the sonnet in its entirety:

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Over the last 127 years, the Statue of Liberty has become an internationally-recognized symbol of freedom and democracy.

French Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi Designed the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty has been a landmark in New York harbor since 1886, but the story of the sculpture begins about 20 years earlier.

In 1865 a French writer and lawyer, Edouard de Laboulaye, first came up with the idea of the statue. Laboulaye had a keen interest in the United States, and had written essays in support of the Union cause during the Civil War. At the war’s conclusion he had the idea of creating a massive statue celebrating the concept of liberty. He wanted the statue to be a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France.

In 1871 Bartholdi sailed to America, and when entering New York harbor he realized he had found the perfect location for the statue he envisioned.

The Torch Was On Display in Philadelphia in 1876

At Philadelphia's Centennial Exhibition in 1876 the torch of the Statue of Liberty was a popular sight. Bartholdi had the hand and torch of the Statue of Liberty brought to Philadelphia in 1876 and it was prominently displayed at the Centennial Exhibition, a large fair celebrating the 100th birthday of the United States. After the Centennial Exhibition closed, the torch was taken to New York City, and was on display in Madison Square Park for several years. 

The statue, of course, was still being constructed in Bartholdi's workshop in Paris.

The Head of the Statue of Liberty was displayed in 1878

The face was featured at the paris International Exhibition in 1878. It was prominently displayed in a park in Paris.

People at the fair could pay an admission fee to climb inside the statue’s head and look out the windows in the crown. This is so popular that people need to book the tickets for crown at least 3 to 4 months in advance. I am planning to get a ticket for me in next summer. Hope I will get one for me. 

The Statue was built in Bartholdi’s Workshop

Bartholdi’s workshop in Paris workers formed the parts that would become the statue of Liberty. The parts of the statue of liberty are formed by bent copper sheets. But the arm is actually made of plaster the process of construction was that enormous plaster forms were made first, and copper plates were then shaped to match the contours of the plaster version.

After some years when the statue is displayed it turns blue-green with age due to chemical reaction between metal and water. The process is called as patination and occurs with most copper when it’s placed outside.

The true color of the statue before patination was a shiny reddish brown color. There is no painting color in statue of Liberty. 

The Statue’s Steel Structure Was Designed by Eiffel

In 1881 the French engineer Gustave Eiffel designed a steel interior skeleton supported the statue. Gustave Eiffel would later design and build the Eiffel tower in Paris.  Eiffel, relying on his experience building steel bridges, came up with a brilliant design that could hold the weight of the statue while also withstanding the high winds it would encounter in New York Harbor.

By early 1884 only the Statue of Liberty was completely assembled in Paris. It’s not placed upon a pedestal, as it would be when assembled in New York harbor. To gain entrance to the statue when it was assembled in Paris, workers created an entrance in the statue’s right foot, which is at the rear of the statue. 

The Statue of Liberty Was Finally Assembled in 1886

The statue of Liberty is disassembled in Paris, packed into crates, and loaded aboard a French freighter, which departed in late May 1885. The many parts of the statue arrived in New York in June 19^th. The ship was greeted with cannons booming in celebration. After being shipped France, the statue was placed on Bedloe’s Island in New York.

In May 1886 the steel skeleton designed by Eiffel started to rise atop the pedestal, and by summer the copper plates of the statue itself were being riveted into place.

The Statue of Liberty was officially unveiled in October 28, 1886. President Grover Cleveland presided, and after a number of speeches, the sculptor Bartholdi pulled a rope and the French tricolor covering the statue’s face was pulled away.

Cannons boomed, fireworks lit the sky, and observers said it was like a thousand Fourth of July celebrations.

Since its construction, the Statue of Liberty, or as Bartholdi called it, Liberty Enlightening the World, has become a great symbol of the United Sates, and of freedom in general.  

The Statue of Liberty is really a amazing piece of architecture from 19^th century which is situated at the border of New Jersey and New York. The famous Brooklyn bridge of New York and Ellis Island (old entry port of USA) are the neighbor of the Liberty island which makes it more beautiful and attractive place for the visitors.


You will enjoy the boat ride to Liberty Island and Ellis island from New jersey and New York. Also, while waiting in the queue for boarding the boat from New York, you can enjoy the standalone musician who will play a tune from any song or National Anthem of your country of origin. For us, he played the tune of Indian National Anthem.