The Statue of Liberty, also known as Liberty Enlightening the World, is a colossal statue located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The statue, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, was a gift to the United States from the people of France in 1886 to celebrate the centennial of American independence.
The statue stands 151 feet tall and is made of copper, with a steel framework. It is a representation of the Roman goddess Libertas, who is holding a torch above her head with her right hand, and a tablet in her left hand bearing the inscription “July IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776), the date of the American Declaration of Independence.
The statue was originally intended to be placed at the entrance of the Suez Canal in Egypt, but the project fell through and Bartholdi turned his attention to the United States. He presented the idea to the American ambassador to France, who was enthusiastic about the project and helped to raise funds for its construction.
The statue was built in France and shipped to the United States in pieces, where it was assembled on Liberty Island. The statue was officially dedicated by President Grover Cleveland in 1886, and it has since become an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, and a major tourist attraction.
The statue was closed to the public for nearly a year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and access to the island was severely restricted. In 2019, the Statue of Liberty underwent a major renovation, which included upgrades to the infrastructure and the installation of an elevator to the crown, which had been closed to visitors since 1916.
The Statue of Liberty has become an important symbol of freedom and democracy, not just for the United States, but for the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and continues to be a major tourist attraction, with millions of visitors each year.
