The Statue Of Liberty

Visitors: for ticket and schedule information, call (212)269-5755

Also see: National Park Service website

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France, conceived and designed as a monument to a great international friendship. But its significance has broadened and for many people throughout the world it has become the recognized symbol of liberty. See dedication poem: The New Colossus

Historical Notes:

Construction of the Statue began in France in the year 1875, by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. The final completion date of the individual sections was in June of 1884, and it stood in Paris until it was dismantled in early 1885 for shipping to the US. Engineering of the structure's assembly was done by Gustave Eiffel. The French frigate "Isere" transported the Statue from France to the United States. In transit the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates. (The pedestal was designed by architect Richard M.Hunt in 1877. Construction of the pedestal began in 1883 and was completed in 1884, and final assembly of the statue & pedestal was completed in 1886) On October 28, 1886 President Grover Cleveland accepted The Statue on behalf of the United States and said in part: "we will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected".

Winds of 50 miles per hour cause the Statue to sway 3 inches (7.62 cm) and the torch to sway 5 inches (12.7 cm). There are 25 windows in the crown which comprise the jewels beneath the seven rays of the diadem. The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand reads, in Roman numerals, "July 4, 1776" the day of America's independence from Britain.

Standard Metric Height from base to torch 151' 1" 46.50m Foundation of pedestal to torch 305' 1" 92.99m Heel to top of head 111' 1" 33.86m Length of hand 16' 5" 5.00m index finger 8' 0" 2.44m Circumference at second joint 3' 6" 1.07m Size of fingernail 13"x10" 13x25.4m Head from chin to cranium 17' 3" 5.26m Head thickness from ear to ear 10' 0" 3.05m Distance across the eye 2' 6" .76m Length of nose 4' 6" l.48m Right arm length 42' 0" 12.80m Right arm greatest thickness 12' 0" 3.66m Thickness of waist 35' 0" 10.67m Width of mouth 3' 0" .91m Tablet, length 23' 7" 7.19m Tablet, width 13' 7" 4.14m Tablet, thickness 2' 0" .61m Height of granite pedestal 89' 0" 27.13m Height of foundation 65' 0" 19.81m Weight of copper used in Statue - 200,000 pounds (100 tons) Weight of steel used in Statue - 250,000 pounds (125 tons) Total weight used in Statue - 450,000 pounds (225 tons) Copper sheeting of Statue is 3/32 of an inch thick (2.37mm)