In 1886, American President Cleveland in a solemn atmosphere presented a statue to citizens - a symbol of peace, freedom and friendship. 38 years later, the 46-meter monument on Liberty Island was declared a national monument.
Instructions
Step 1
Work on the Statue of Liberty has been going on for 9 years. Architect Gustave Eiffel designed the steel frame of the monument. This is the same Eiffel who designed the famous Parisian tower. Another specialist, Richard Morris Hunt, worked on the 47-meter pedestal. He is the author of the Tribune Building and Lennox Library buildings. The statue itself was built by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.
Step 2
Freedom Island, on which the famous monument is located, is quite large: it occupies about 10 acres of land or 40 hectares. The island is located at the mouth of the Hudson in New York Bay. Initially, the so-called Lady Liberty weighed 225 tons and consisted of 300 copper sheets. Having been outdoors for many years, it turned green under the influence of acid rain. In 1984, the statue was reconstructed, replacing 1,350 rusted elements with stainless steel slats. This process lasted two years.
Step 3
It is difficult to imagine how in the 19th century Bartholdi coped with a huge gift for the United States, if in the 20th century reconstruction alone took two years. The specialist worked on the monument in France, and before being sent to New York in 1885, the statue had to be dismantled. This is the story of the French gift.
Step 4
“Freedom Illuminating the World” - a woman in a crown with seven teeth, in flowing clothes. With her left hand, she presses the plate with the date when the Treaty of Independence of the United States was signed: July 4, 1776. The gift arrived just in time for the 100th anniversary. The 7-pronged crown is a symbol of the seven seas or seven continents. One leg of a woman stands on broken chains.
Step 5
There is a torch in the woman's right hand, but it was changed twice. In 1916, the historical torch was modified, and during the reconstruction of the entire statue, it was replaced altogether. The modified torch is now in the museum inside the pedestal of the monument.
Step 6
The pedestal is 10 floors, and the second is the Immigration Museum. The crown of the statue can be reached by elevator or the 354-step spiral staircase, but for ordinary people these opportunities are closed.
Step 7
But, being inside the pedestal, you can see through the glass the iron frame of the monument, created by the famous Eiffel. The French presented the Americans with Lady Liberty in honor of friendship between countries and in honor of the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Step 8
Now the generous gift is known in different countries as a symbol of democracy and freedom, and in some cities smaller copies or analogs are installed. Tourists mainly come to Liberty Island by ferry, but some fly over the Statue by helicopter.
