New York. The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this name is probably the high rises and a green statue of a woman holding a torch in her hand. This is the Statue of Liberty, standing 305 feet tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, has been welcoming millions of immigrants to the United States since 1886. Whether you’ve visited the Statue of Liberty in person or just admired it from afar, there’s no denying that it is a truly remarkable monument. Its history, symbolism, and beauty make it a must-see destination for anyone interested in American history and culture. Visitors can climb to the statue’s pedestal and crown for a panoramic view of New York City.
Designed by the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, this symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope, was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to commemorate American independence. They inscribed the date of American Independence, “4th July 1776” on the tablet carried by Liberty. A pretty and thoughtful gift indeed!
Originally called, “Liberty Enlightening the World”, its purpose was to serve as a lighthouse to the incoming ships and boats in the olden times, but this plan was abandoned due to the difficulty of maintaining it. After that, it became a famous tourist spot, where visitors would usually climb up to the statue’s torch and view the beautiful cityscape from there. However, in 1916, the authorities decided to stop allowing visitors up to the torch due to some minor damages done by the Germans. Additionally, the torch that we see today is not the original one. The original one was replaced in 1984 with one covered in 24-carat gold and is now placed in the statue’s museum.
The statue is a tapestry woven with symbolism. It represents the figure of Liberty, presumed to be a Roman goddess, whose face has been modeled after the artist’s mother, she carries a torch and a book of laws. The seven points of her crown represent the seven seas, the seven continents, and the rays of the sun. The statue is the embodiment of the ideals of freedom, democracy, and enlightenment that the United States was founded upon. What a flattering accolade! The Statue of Liberty represents the American Dream and the opportunities that the country offers to all. The statue’s feet have broken shackles, symbolizing the country moving forward from oppression and slavery. She is also moving her right foot towards a new, free era. This was to inspire the coming generation of independent America.
After being a part of almost all movies shot in New York, we all have a visualization of the statue being green in color, but did you know that the original color was shiny brown? Due to being all the seaside, the copper oxidized and changed colors from brown to green. Now, I could never picture the Liberty brown in color. This statue has been struck by lightning over 600 times. So, there you have it, folks! A little glimpse into the Statue of Liberty.
Until next time
Au revoir reader :))