When the Statue of Liberty was erected. How tall is the statue of liberty. Who gave the Statue of Liberty to America

A very large number of tourists visiting the United States of America go there with only one purpose - to see the Statue of Liberty. What features of this sculpture have been attracting the attention of travelers and local residents, with which interesting facts the history of its appearance is connected, as well as the city where the Statue of Liberty is located, and in what other countries of the world can you see copies of this work? You will learn this and much more from this article.

Symbol of New York and USA

Anyone who is at least a little interested in history knows where the Statue of Liberty is located. One of the most famous sculptures of the whole world is located in the state of New York on an island that once bore the name Bedloe, but after the placement of this masterpiece on it, it is not called anything other than “Liberty Island”. In addition to its stunning size, it is distinguished by deep meaning and fullness, and the art of execution that a talented sculptor was able to show even when working with such a huge structure is simply amazing. Even the indigenous people regularly visit the place where the Statue of Liberty is located, and what can we say about tourists. This monument is interesting not only externally. It has a rich history. He has seen a lot in his almost two hundred years of his life and will see a lot more. From a height of almost 70 meters, given the height of the pedestal, this symbol of independence and peace looks at a person.

What does the Statue of Liberty look like, where is it, in what country?

Although the creation of this masterpiece was timed to coincide with the centenary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and is considered a gift from the French, it would be correct to call it a joint work of the best masters of these two peoples. Even when work was in full swing, what the final version of the Statue of Liberty would look like was not fully known. There is an opinion that even the Egyptian government was asked to receive this work of art as a gift, but it considered it too costly to transport and install it.

If the execution of the sculpture itself was laid on the shoulders of the French, then the Americans were required to find a suitable place where the Statue of Liberty would be after arriving in the country, and prepare a reliable pedestal for it.

Merit of two nations

Both peoples simply did not have enough funds to complete the work, so they went to various tricks to raise money. Theatrical performances, auctions, charitable gatherings, various entertainment events were held, the purpose of which was to attract as many sponsors as possible. As a result, the goal was achieved, the right amount Money collected and the work was completed, although ten years late from the planned deadline, but today it is not so important.

Not less well-known analogues

The statue, located on Liberty Island, has no less professionally made copies and analogues in many countries of the world. They also receive the attention of tourists and local residents, but always, despite their value to the owner country, on a global scale they will remain only a semblance of the world-famous cultural and historical heritage of America.

Those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located in France will be given seven answers at once. There are four in Paris alone. The Parisian museum holds a smaller model of the New York statue and is the most significant for history buffs. Just two meters high, a copy of the famous sculpture can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, and near the Eiffel Tower there is already a rather large, eleven-meter analogue. It is already a return gift from the Americans to the French and is installed in the direction to the west, that is, as if facing the original. It symbolizes peace between the two nations.

It deserves attention

In the place where the life of everyone's beloved Princess Diana tragically ended, there is also a monument to Freedom. It was erected long before the tragic events, but it became especially visited after them. His torch is constantly filled with bouquets of flowers brought by the fans of the deceased.

Tourists who visit Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer do not leave this city without a photo taken near the gilded sculpture. Its form is copied from the New York original, but the luminous torch distinguishes it from all its fellows. "Glowing Freedom" - that's what the locals call it.

In a small square in Poitiers, in memory of Frederic Bartholdi, who created that very American statue, a copy of the masterpiece he created was also installed on the centenary of his death. The area has the same name, and it is not at all difficult for tourists to find it.

For those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located, the country of Japan has prepared a wonderful surprise. On the island of Odaiba in Tokyo, there is a beautiful monument, which is almost an exact copy of the world-famous statue. It was made very skillfully, and every person who visits the capital of Japan will definitely bring memorable pictures taken near it.

Did you know?

It turns out that even in Russia and Ukraine you can find places where the Statue of Liberty is located. Few people know in what city such specimens are located, but in Moscow, guides will definitely tell you about the monument to Nikolai Andreev, which, unfortunately, has not survived to our time, as it was destroyed, but the head of the monument is still kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. In Ukraine, the smallest statue of Liberty in the world, located in the city of Uzhgorod, deserves special attention. Its height is only 30 cm, and its weight is 4 kg, but nevertheless it brings quite a lot of benefits, as it is an operating lighthouse on the Uzh River. And in Lviv there is the only sitting Statue of Liberty in the world, a huge number of tourists come to see it every year.

Symbols of freedom have always been and will be relevant for any nation. Freedom and peace are among the greatest values ​​of mankind. Being close to the majestic monuments of architecture, one can simply physically feel that pressure, that fortitude that was inherent in the fighters for a free and independent existence and allowed them to free themselves from the oppression of the invaders.

It was a joint work of France and the United States, built to commemorate the long friendship between the peoples of these two countries. The French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi created the statue itself from sheets of hammered copper, while Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the man who would later create the famous Eiffel Tower, designed the statue's steel structure.

It was given by the French to the United States and mounted on an American-designed pedestal on a small island in Upper New York Bay, now known as Liberty Island, and was presented by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. Over the years, the statue has watched millions of immigrants arrive in America via nearby Ellis Island. In 1986, the statue was extensively reconstructed in honor of the centennial anniversary of its discovery. Today, the Statue of Liberty remains an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

Origin of the Statue of Liberty

Around 1865, as the American Civil War drew to a close, French historian Édouard de Laboulay suggested that France create a statue to give to the United States in celebration of that national success in building a viable democracy. The sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, known for large-scale sculptures, was given the task; the goal was to have the sculpture completed in time for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. The project would be a joint project between the two countries - the French were responsible for the statue while the Americans would build the pedestal on which it would stand - and symbolize the friendship between their peoples.

Due to the need to raise funds for the statue, work on the sculpture did not begin until 1875. Titled "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World", Bartholdi's massive creation depicted a woman holding a torch in her raised right hand and a tablet in her left engraved with "July 4, 1776", the date of the Declaration of Independence. Bartholdi was said to have modeled the woman's face after his mother's, forging large copper sheets to create the statue's "skin" (using a technique called repousse).

To create a skeleton on which the skin would be assembled, he turned to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Together with Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, Eiffel built a skeleton from an iron support and steel, which allowed the copper skin to move freely, a necessary condition for high winds in the New York harbor area.

Statue of Liberty: assembly and dedication

While work on the statue continued in France, fundraising efforts for the pedestal continued in the United States, including contests, performances, and exhibitions. Toward the end, New York World owner and editor-in-chief Joseph Pulitzer raised the last necessary funds through his campaign. Designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, the statue's pedestal was built in the courtyard of Fort Wood, a fortress built for the War of 1812 and located on Bedloe's Island at the southern tip of Manhattan in Upper New York Bay.

In 1885, Bartholdi completed the statue, which was dismantled, packed in over 200 crates, and shipped to New York aboard the French frigate Isère. Over the next four months, workers assembled the statue and placed it on a pedestal; its height reached 93 meters along with the pedestal. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland officially unveiled the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

In 1892, the US government opened a federal immigration station on Ellis Island, located near Bedloe Island in Upper New York Bay. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million immigrants arrived on Ellis Island before being allowed to enter the United States. From 1900 to 1914, during the peak years of its operation, about 5,000 to 10,000 people passed each day.

Rising above New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty greeted majestically all who passed through Ellis Island. A plaque at the entrance to the statue's pedestal is engraved with a sonnet entitled "The New Colossus", written in 1883 by Emma Lazarus as part of a fundraising contest. His most famous passage speaks of the statue's role as a welcome symbol of freedom and democracy for the millions of immigrants who came to America in search of a new, better life:

Give me all those tired ones
who is oppressed by the cruelty of your tough temper, -
outcasts passionately thirsting for freedom.

Become a beacon of greatness and glory
my torch at the Golden Gate."

Statue of Liberty through the years

Until 1901, the American Lighthouse Board operated the Statue of Liberty as the statue's torch represented a navigational aid for sailors. After that, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the US War Department due to Fort Wood's status as another operational post for the Army. In 1924, the federal government made the statue a national monument, and it was transferred to the care of the National Park Service in 1933. In 1956, Bedloe Island was renamed Liberty Island, and in 1965, more than a decade after the closure of the Federal Migration Station, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

By the early 20th century, oxidization of the Statue of Liberty's copper skin from exposure to rain, wind and sun gave the statue its characteristic green color known as verdigris. In 1984, the statue was closed to the public and underwent a major restoration, just in time for its centennial celebration. Just as restoration began, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a world heritage. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Liberty Island closed for 100 days; the Statue of Liberty itself was closed to visitors until August 2004. In July 2009, the statue's crown reopened to the public, although visitors must pre-register to climb to the top of the pedestal or crown, The Statue of Liberty can only accommodate 240 people per day.

Statue of Liberty in New York (New York, USA) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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Perhaps, not only a native American, but also any inhabitant of our planet, when asked what is the symbol of the United States, will answer without hesitation: the Statue of Liberty. It is no coincidence that we see this monument more often than others in American cinema, it is no coincidence that, being tourists, we buy up copies of the Statue of Liberty in souvenir shops and take home exactly copies of the Statue of Liberty.

Emphasizing the greatness of the monument, the Statue of Liberty is often compared with the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient Greek statue that has not survived to this day. The poetess Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet "The New Colossus" on the day of the opening of the Statue of Liberty. Since 1903, a special tablet with the lines of this work has adorned the pedestal of the monument.

By the way, not everyone knows that the full name of the Statue of Liberty sounds like “Liberty Enlightening the World”. The 46-meter (93-meter with a pedestal) statue of Liberty, proudly towering on the island of the same name, is a gift presented by the United States on behalf of the French people, who once supported the Americans in the struggle for independence. The idea of ​​creating the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of independence and democracy was born in 1865 and belongs to the famous French scientist and lawyer Edouard Rene Lefebvre de Laboulaye. The concept of the monument was developed by the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.

The original layout of the Statue of Liberty was made by Bartholdi in 1870, today this first copy of the legendary monument can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Place for the Statue of Liberty or an interesting fact

In which corner of American soil the monument would rise, Bartholdi chose. In his opinion, it was simply impossible to find places more ideal than Bedloe Island, located 3 km southwest of the southern border of Manhattan. However, historians lift the curtain and reveal some secrets to us.

It turns out that Bartholdi perfectly represented his giant sculpture not only on an island near New York, but also in Port Said, located in the Suez Canal, connecting the Red and mediterranean sea. The project "Egypt Bringing Light to Asia" was not destined to come true, however, Bartholdi's works were not in vain, the sculptor successfully translated his idea into reality in the United States, moreover, Lessens, the builder of the Suez Canal, was put at the head of the committee to create the Statue of Liberty in the United States .

A bit of history

The project for erecting a monument on Bedloe Island was approved by the US Congress only in 1877, and this despite the fact that, according to the French plan, an unusual present was to be ready by the hundredth anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, that is, by July 4, 1876. However, the fundraising was delayed, and by this time only a copper hand with a torch was ready, which, until the completion of work on the statue, was sheltered in New York at Madison Square. By July 1878, Lady Liberty's head was ready. At the same time, the head was presented at an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris.

It is worth noting that funds for the erection of the monument were collected in all possible ways: balls, sports competitions, exhibitions and lotteries were organized. The eloquent Pulitzer, publisher of the New-York World newspaper, provided significant assistance in financing the construction of the monument.

The first presentation of the finished Statue of Liberty took place on July 4, 1884 in France, after which the monument was dismantled and sent to the United States. The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York on July 17, 1885. The assembly of the monument lasted about 4 months. However, the official opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York by US President Grover Cleveland took place only on October 28, 1886. Only men attended the opening ceremony. And despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of democracy. As an exception, only Lessens' eight-year-old daughter and Bartholdi's wife were allowed on the island that day.

By the way, Bedloe Island was officially renamed Liberty Island only in 1956, although Bartholdi suggested doing this back in the 19th century, 80 years before the event.

Statue of Liberty inside and out

The Statue of Liberty is a steel frame with a total weight of 125 tons. Gustav Eiffel was invited to design and build the steel structure, and Maurice Koechlin continued his work. The frame is constructed in such a way that inside the monument you can safely move around and even climb the spiral staircases to the top. There are 354 steps to the main observation deck located in the crown. From there, from 25 windows symbolizing precious stones, an amazing view of New York Harbor opens. By the way, the seven rays of the crown symbolize the seven seas and seven continents, as is commonly believed in the West.

From above, the steel skeleton is covered with copper sheets masterfully minted in wooden molds with a thickness of only 2.37 mm and a total weight of 31 tons. The copper plates spliced ​​together form the silhouette of the statue. By the way, copper was supplied to France from Russia. It is worth noting that one leg of the statue stands on broken shackles - this is how Bartholdi symbolically showed gaining freedom. The plaque in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty bears the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776: JULY IV MDCCLXXVI.

The monument's plinth was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt. Work on its construction began in the summer of 1885 and completed in April 1886. The cement base of the Statue of Liberty weighs 27,000 tons. To get to the top of the pedestal, you need to overcome 192 steps. Inside the pedestal is a museum, which can be reached by elevator.

In 1924, the Statue of Liberty was listed as a national monument, in the 30s of the 20th century the entire island of Bedloe (Liberty) passed into the status of a national park. In 1984, the UN declared Liberty Island and the legendary monument located on it a monument of world importance.

The Statue of Liberty has been repeatedly restored, new lighting elements have been added. Currently, the monument is equipped with laser illumination.

Who is "Lady Liberty"?

Who was the model of Bartholdi, whose face illuminates the world? Who has been depicted by the great sculptor in the image of the Roman Goddess Libertas forever and ever? Surely, these questions are asked by the Americans themselves, and guests from all over the world.

There are two opinions on this. Someone believes that Bartholdi captured in his work the face of the Frenchwoman Isabella Boyer, the widow of Isaac Singer. Others are of the opinion that the Statue of Liberty inherited the image of the sculptor's mother, Charlotte. Which opinion is true is still a mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved.

How to get there

Every year, the Statue of Liberty is visited by over 4 million tourists from all over the world. Entrance to the National Park of the island is free, however, to get to it you will have to spend money on a ferry, as well as go through a thorough inspection at the piers.

Ferries depart from New York. You can go on a trip to the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park Pier in Manhattan, or from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Entrance to the statue is free, for the ferry you will have to pay adults 25 USD, children 4-12 years old - 15 USD. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

Statue of Liberty it is one of the most celebrated, well-known symbols of American freedom. It is located on Liberty Island in the middle of the Hudson River in New York, USA.

What was the Statue of Liberty built for?

The Statue of Liberty, its official name is “Liberty, Illuminates the World”, also has another affectionate name, like “Lady of Liberty”, which has become one of the symbols of freedom and democracy. The classic appearance of the statue is the prototype of the ancient Rome statue of the Goddess of Liberty, which was built against the oppression of the people and tyranny.

Height of the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty is the figure of a woman holding a torch. The statue is made of pure copper, which is set on a base of steel, which in turn is covered with gold leaf. She stands on top of a rectangular stone pedestal in the shape of an irregular star. The statue has a height of 46 meters, if you add a pedestal and foundation here, you get 93 meters. The face of the Statue of Liberty is 2.4 meters high. The Statue of Liberty weighs over 225 tons.

What is inside the Statue of Liberty?

Inside the statue there is a staircase with 354 steps that goes to its top. It has 25 viewing windows on its crown. The seven rays of freedom in the crown of the statue symbolize the seven continents of the world and the seven seas. His torch signifies enlightenment. The tablet in the hand of the Statue of Liberty means knowledge, where the date of the declaration of independence of the United States is written in Roman numerals: "July IV MDCCLXXVI". The statue is located in the central part of the island and is a national monument, which is under the protection of the National Park Service.

History of the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty signifies the alliance between France and the United States during the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi. The French at one time donated money for the construction of the statue.

The first model of the Statue of Liberty, in 1870, was built on a small scale. The story begins with this, this was the first statue that is now in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. And the second copy of the statue, also on a small scale, is located in the city of Maceio in northeastern Brazil.

Meanwhile, during the construction of the statue of Liberty Bartholdi, the help of engineers was required to solve certain design problems that are associated with the installation of a colossal copper sculpture. Eiffel Tower designer Gustav Fiffel was commissioned to design the statue's huge skeletal base that would allow it to stand upright.

On June 30, 1878, at the Paris Exhibition, the head of the Statue of Liberty was exhibited, which was organized in the garden of the Trocadero Palace. At that time, like others, parts of the statue were shown in another exhibition at Champs de Mars.

By an act of the US Congress in 1877, it was decided to bring and install the statues of Liberty to America. General William Sherman was chosen to be commissioned for delivery and installation. The place of construction and installation of the statue was also chosen - an island on the Hudson River.

On February 18, 1879, Bartholdi was issued a US patent for the industrial design of the statue No. D11,023. The decision to finance the Statue of Liberty was made in July 1882.

After the statue was ready to ship to the United States, there were some problems with the meltdown through Atlantic Ocean. The pedestal on which she was supposed to stand did not fit into the vessel. But still, the statue was prepared for transportation across the ocean, it was divided into 350 separate parts and then packed into 214 boxes.

Finally, on June 17, 1886, the statue arrived in New York Harbor, and was officially installed on the massive Memorial, designed by Richard Morris. Which was built with funds raised by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer.

In 1956, the US Congress passed the Wood Island "Liberty Island" Act.

Wood Island, in turn, was built and fortified with a plinth in the 19th century, of concrete and granite in the shape of a limited star, to protect New York during the war in 1812.

The statue was in conservation, boxes, for eleven months, waiting for its pedestal. In the United States, the first nail in the statue's construction was hammered in by the French minister, P. Levi Morton. The long-awaited construction and installation began.

Finally, on October 28, 1886, it was inaugurated by President Grover Cleveland in front of thousands of spectators.

In 1924, the monument was declared a national monument. And in 1933, the statue was transferred to the National Park Service. By the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, between 1984 and 1986, it was reconstructed.

Like other historical monuments managed by the National Park Service, Liberty statue, along with Ellis Island and Liberty, in 1966 it was listed on the National Register historical sites. And in 1972, President Nixon, at the base of the pedestal, opened the American Museum dedicated to immigration.

The Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. And in 2007, he was among the 20 finalists in the New Seven Wonders of the World competition.

Millions of tourists from all over the world visit the Statue of Liberty every year. And through the observation deck of the statue, a beautiful view opens up in which you can spend your own.

Statue of Liberty became an international symbol of freedom. Have you been there, write in the comments.