The Statue of Liberty

The Wonders of World

Location:

The Statue of Liberty stands on Ellis Island, New York, USA.

History:

The statue was designed by Frederic Bartholdi and completed in 1876.

Description:

It stands at more than 93 meters tall. The Statue of liberty formally called as Liberty Enlightening the world, colossal statue on liberty Island in the upper bay of New York harbor, United States of America, that commemorates the friendship of the people of the United States and France. Standing 302 feet(92 Meters) high including the pedestal it represents a women holding a torch in her raised right hand and a tablet bearing the date July 4,1976 in her left proclaiming liberty. An elevator raises to the upper level and a spiral

staircase leads to an observation platform in her crown. The plaque at the pedestals entrance is inscribed with the sonnet “The New Colossus” by Emma lazarus. It was written to help raise money for the pedestal.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land,Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith 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-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The American Museum of Immigration is contained at the Statues base. A French historian Edward de laboulaye, made the proposal for the statue after the American Civil War. Funds were contributed by French people and the construction began in 1875 under the sculptor fredic-Auguste Bartholic. The statue was constructed of copper sheets, hammered into shape by hand and assembled over four gigantic steel supports designed by Eugene – Emmanuel veillet-Le Duc and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. In 1985 the completed statue, 151 feet high in and weighing 225 tones was disampled and shipped to New York City.

The Pedestal, designed by American architect, Richard Morrice Hunt and built within the walls of foot wood on Belbones Island, was completed later. President Cleveland dedicated the Statue mounted on the pedestal on October 28, 1886. In 1980’s both American and French workers for a centennial celebration in July 1986 restored the statue. The lighthouse board first administrated the Statue, because the illuminated torch was considered as a navigational aid. Because foot wood was still an operational Army Post, the statue was transferred to war department. It was declared as an national monument in 1924. The foot wood was deactivated in 1937, and the rest of the island was incorporated in to the monument. In 1956, Beldoes Island was renamed to liberty island and in 1956 nearby Ellis island, once the country’s major immigration station, was added bringing the monument’s area into 58 acres. The Ellis Island was in 1808 was sold to the federal government by the New York government for $ 10,000 and it was used as fort and power magazine. It became the part of statue of liberty national monument in 1956 and it was reopened for sightseers in 1976. Barthodi, the sculptor of the statue of liberty in the New York City, decided in 1886, the statue of titled in full, “Liberty Enlightens the World “ he was considered as one of the best patriotic sculptors.