Interesting facts about the statue of Liberty

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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

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Standing tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty is
a potent symbol of American history, representing the nation’s liberty,
freedom and inclusivity. Designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste
Bartholdi, the famous statue was a gift from France to the United States,
to commemorate the alliance forged between Americans and French
during the American Revolution. The constituent parts of the statue were
built in France, and made their way across the pond in 214 shipping crates.
In 1886 the statue was completed, and it has remained in place ever since.
But just how tall is this colossal monument? Let’s take a closer look, along
with some fun facts about Lady Liberty.

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1. The Statue of Liberty Is 93 meters
Manhattan skyline with the Statue of Liberty and a ferry, photo by Bernd Dittrich
The height of the Statue of Liberty varies, depending on how you are measuring it. From the statue’s base
to the torch, the total height is 151 feet. But if you also include the pedestal and the foundation, the entire
construction is an impressive 305 feet tall, making up one of the largest monuments in the entire world. To
put these measurements into context, the Statue of Liberty is equal height to a 22-story building from the
ground to the tip of the torch flame. There are 377 steps leading from the main lobby of the statue all the
way to the crown platform, which offers views out across New York harbor.

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2. The Statue of Liberty Is Coated in Copper
The gold torch on the Statue of Liberty following restoration work in the 1980s.
Have you ever wondered why the Statue of Liberty has a green hue? The entire statue is coated
in a thin layer of copper, as thin as two pennies stuck together, which covers an internal
structure made from cast iron and stainless steel. This copper has slowly aged over time,
changing from a reddish-brown hue to the distinctive pale green patination we know and love
today. Meanwhile, the gleaming torch was coated in 24K gold during restoration work in 1986.

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3. No One Knows Who Lady Liberty Is Modelled On
The Statue of Liberty detailed view.
It is likely that the inspiration for Lady Liberty’s chiseled features and strident pose came from a range of sources.
Some believe she might have been based on an Arab woman, in line with Bartholdi’s earlier designs for Egypt, while
others speculate that she bears an uncanny resemblance to Bartholdi’s own mother.

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4. It Is Closer to New Jersey than New York
A view across to the Statue of Liberty from the water.
Technically the statue of Liberty resides in the waters of New Jersey. However, Liberty Island is part of the 8th Congressional District of New York, and New
Jersey has never tried to claim the land, so we can safely say Lady Liberty lives in New York City.

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5. The Statue of Liberty Was Once a Lighthouse
The Statue of Liberty lit up at night.
For the first 16 years of its existence, the Statue of Liberty operated as a lighthouse, which was supposed to guide ships coming into New York harbor. While the
original idea was to place lights inside Liberty’s crown, these were too bright, and safety officers feared they might blind passing ships. Instead, light came from
the torch. While other lighthouses were still run from kerosene lamps, the Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse to be lit with electricity, powered by a steam
electricity plant. But unfortunately, because there was no amplifying lens in the torch, the statue wasn’t much use, and it ceased its lighthouse activities in 1902.

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presentation created by Vinogradov.V