The Statue of Liberty and Its History
- June 30th, 2009
- Posted in History
The United States has many symbols – the Bald Eagle, Mount Rushmore, and others – but one that stands out for those coming to the United States from another country is the Statue of Liberty. In fact, this one statue is a monument to freedom easily recognizable all over the world.
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor, came up with the idea for the Statue of Liberty (also known as Liberty Enlightening the World) while he was visiting Egypt. Knowing how large he wanted the statue to be, he enlisted the help of Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower to help him create the structure of the statue. The statue was given to the United States in 1886 by the people of France in a gesture of friendship.
The statue of Lady Liberty, constructed entirely in France, traveled by boat from France to the New York harbor taking over a year for it to be reassembled. Standing in the New York Harbor welcoming immigrants, visitors, and those returning to the US after travel abroad, the statue is over 305 feet tall, including the pedestal. The statue is one of the first items visible when flying into New York.
The Statue of Liberty is a robed woman, believed to be Libertas, the ancient Roman goddess of freedom from slavery, oppression, and tyranny. She appears to be stepping forward with her left foot stepping on broken shackles. She holds a raised torch in one hand, symbolizing enlightenment. The tablet made of stone in her left hand represents knowledge.
The statue is made of steel undergirding with a copper layer on the outside; she now appears green due to oxidation. She wears a tiara with seven points. Many experts agree that the points represent the seven continents and seas. Inside the statue is the poem by Emma Lazarus entitled The New Colossus engraved on a bronze plaque which was added in 1903.
How did the statue become associated with freedom? Many historians credit this to the number of immigrants, counting in the millions over the years, who have come to the United States to find a new life. Many arrived on the shores of America fleeing oppression in their own homeland, so it’s no wonder the Statue of Liberty is seen as a symbol of freedom.
If you have never seen the Statue of Liberty in person, and you’re traveling to France, you can see a smaller version located in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Another small model was given to Maceio, a city in the northwest of Brazil. Other versions can be found in locations around the United States and the world.
The Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of freedom for well over 100 years. If you have the opportunity, going to see it in person can be an event that you’ll remember for years to come. Who knows, you may have had relatives who immigrated to the United States and viewed the statue with fresh eyes and a heart yearning for freedom.
