America is known throughout the world for its majestic Statue of Liberty, which welcomes all visitors to New York on the small islet of Liberty near the continent. This masterpiece of sculptor's art was donated to the American people by France, which brought such a gift to the United States in honor of the 100th anniversary of the country's independence. However, who is the creator of the magnificent Lady Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty and its meaning
The author of the Statue of Liberty was the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who allowed France to donate his creation to America, which did not remain in debt. On the day of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the American government presented Paris with a reduced Statue of Liberty, created by the same Bartholdi. The French installed a copy at the Grenelle Bridge, becoming the second owners of the symbol of freedom and democracy.
The original name of the Statue of Liberty, donated to the Americans, sounded like "Liberty Illuminating the World."
The crown on the head of the American statue has seven rays, each of which symbolizes 7 continents and 7 oceans. The windows in the crown (25 pieces) symbolize 25 natural minerals, and the toga of the statue - the Republic of Rome and Ancient Greece. The torch that the statue holds in its hand is a symbol of the Enlightenment, and the book in the second hand symbolizes the Book of the Laws. At the feet of the statue are broken chains, identifying the victory over tyranny.
USA symbol
The Statue of Liberty was taken to the city port of New York in the summer of 1886 on the frigate Isere. Disassembled, the monument consisted of three hundred and fifty bronze parts, which were packed in two hundred and fourteen boxes. The statue was assembled for four months without the use of various external structures - at the first stage, the workers erected a metal frame, to which they attached parts of the monument.
In total, three hundred thousand special bronze rivets were used to collect the Statue of Liberty.
Before the outbreak of World War I, America considered the statue of Colombia as its symbol, but the huge proceeds from the sale of posters depicting the Statue of Liberty made the monument of the French sculptor a favorite. Lady Liberty was declared a National Monument of the country on October 15, 1924.
In the fall of 1972, the Museum of American Settlement was opened at the base of the monument, visitors to which can trace the history of the country to this day, from the Indians who are its indigenous inhabitants to the numerous immigrants who have come to America since the beginning of the 20th century.
Today you can see the Statue of Liberty with your own eyes by sailing for free on The Staten Island Ferry, which runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. Also, an excellent view of the monument opens from Battery Park in Brooklyn and Brooklyn's Red Hook's Fairway Café.
