What a moment it must have been when, on the morning of June 17, 1885, a French steamer pulled into New York Harbor carrying 214 crates of cargo. Packed inside was nothing less than the Statue of Liberty — broken down into individual pieces for transport. This extraordinary gift from France honored the alliance the two nations forged during the American Revolution, standing as a powerful symbol of friendship and a tribute to America's foundational ideals of freedom and democracy.
The creative mind behind this iconic monument was French artist Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who looked to classical antiquity for his vision — specifically, the image of a Roman goddess wrapped in a flowing robe. For the statue's face, Bartholdi turned to someone close to home: his own mother served as the model. Perched atop her head is a crown adorned with seven spikes, each one representing the seven continents and the seven seas, collectively symbolizing the "extension of light to the world." Raised high in her right hand is a torch, a beacon of progress, while her left hand cradles a tablet designed to represent the Declaration of Independence.
Fun Facts about the Statue of Liberty:
- The Statue of Liberty is a lightning magnet! It is struck over 600 times a year on average.
- Her official name is "Liberty Enlightening the World," a name given to her by designer Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. She is also commonly referred to as "Lady Liberty."
- The original torch held by Lady Liberty was replaced in 1984 with a torch covered in 24k gold leaf.
- Lady Liberty is made out of copper. The statue is green due to the oxidation process of copper.
- The Statue of Liberty was originally designed to function as a lighthouse, with the torch serving as a guiding light.