The Statue of Liberty is the most popular attraction in New York, and millions of visitors visit it annually.
Many people hire tour guides to learn more about the history of the Statue of Liberty.
However, there are some interesting facts about the Statue of Liberty that you should know before visiting.
This handy guide will tell you about all the Statue of Liberty facts that will make your journey more informative and memorable.
It contains everything from its making to transportation and some lesser-known secrets throughout!
Represents Roman Goddess
Do you know that the Statue of Liberty represents the Roman goddess Libertas?
Libertas is the goddess of freedom and liberty from ancient Roman culture.
The statue of the goddess Libertas in New York was also designed to symbolize the liberty and freedom of America, reflecting the values that Libertas embodied.
Before statues, Libertas were also depicted on ancient Roman coins, especially during the period after Julius Caesar’s assassination.
Meant to be in Egypt
The idea for a large statue by its designer, French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, originated with a project in Egypt.
Inspired by the colossal figures guarding Nubian tombs, Bartholdi initially proposed a large statue of a woman holding a torch to stand at the entrance of the Suez Canal.
It was meant to be titled ‘Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia.’ However, the project didn’t start in Egypt.
Later, Bartholdi adapted his design to create the Statue of Liberty, which holds a large torch in her right hand to symbolize enlightenment.
Transported to France in Pieces
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States.
This gift commemorated the alliance between the two countries during the American Revolution and celebrated 100 years of American independence.
The statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi with structural support from engineer Gustave Eiffel in France, who also designed the Eiffel Tower.
Once the statue was completed in France, it was disassembled into 300 pieces, packed into 214 crates, and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.
After a challenging journey, the pieces were reassembled, and the statue was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886, in New York Harbor.
Believed to Resemble Auguste’s Mother
Although there are many fascinating facts about the Statue of Liberty, none of them might be more interesting than this one!
Do you know that a theory suggests that Lady Liberty resembles sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi’s mother, Charlotte Bartholdi?
It is believed that Bartholdi drew inspiration from his mother’s strong and dignified features while designing the statue.
While there is not much evidence confirming this claim, if it’s true, he basically won all the Son of the Year awards ever!
Pedestal was made by Crowd Funding
The massive Statue of Liberty needed an equally massive pedestal to support its weight.
Although the Statue of Liberty was made in France, it was mutually decided that its pedestal would be funded by the USA.
Later, the US government refused to pay for the Pedestal, and crowdfunding began.
Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper publisher, devised a plan to accelerate the funding of the Statue of Liberty’s Pedestal.
He promised to print the names of all contributors in his newspaper and offer rewards to the largest donors.
This filled people with excitement, and in just a few months, they raised over $100,000 from 160,000 donors, including big politicians, children, street cleaners, etc.
Interesting Numbers of the Lady Liberty
- Lady Liberty has a 35-foot (11-meter) waistline and wears a size 879 shoe.
- The total height of the Statue of Liberty from the base to the torch is 151 feet (46 meters).
- The entire construction, including the pedestal and foundation, reaches an impressive height of 305 feet (93 meters).
- The crown of the statue features 25 windows, and visitors can climb up to it via 377 steps. It also has seven spikes.
- 40 adults can fit inside Lady Liberty’s head, and 12 can fit in her torch.
Made of Copper and Green in Color
The Statue of Liberty is made mostly of copper, a metal that can turn green over time.
When it was first built, the statue’s copper coating gave it a shiny reddish-brown color, like a new penny.
But as the years passed, the copper slowly reacted with the air and water, forming a greenish coating called patina.
This natural process gave the statue its iconic green color, which we see today.
So, even though it wasn’t painted green in the beginning, the Statue of Liberty turned green over the years.
Do you know?
Lady Liberty is skinny. It is covered with an extremely thin copper layer, about the thickness of two pennies pressed together.
You can learn more about its color by clicking here.
The Statue of Liberty is Symbolic
It’s not just a statue; each part of the Lady Liberty symbolizes something:
The Torch: It symbolizes enlightenment, lighting the path to freedom and liberty.
It represents the idea that education and enlightenment lead to liberation.
The Book: The tablet held in the statue’s left hand is inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. It symbolizes the rule of law, justice, and the foundation of democracy.
The Crown: The seven spikes on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven seas and continents of the world.
Broken Shackles: The broken shackles at her feet symbolize the end of oppression and slavery, symbolizing the promise of freedom for all people.
The Statue was Once a Lighthouse
From 1886 to 1902, the Statue of Liberty’s torch emitted light, guiding ships and sailors safely into New York Harbor.
While the original plan was to place lights inside Liberty’s crown, it was found that they were too bright and could potentially blind passing ships.
Notably, the Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse in the United States to be illuminated using electricity powered by a steam electricity plant.
However, because the torch did not have an amplifying lens, its effectiveness as a lighthouse was limited, and it ceased its lighthouse activities in 1902.
Damaged in World War I
During World War I, the Statue of Liberty was damaged.
On July 30, 1916, German spies planted explosives in a munitions depot on Black Tom Island, which was connected to Jersey City.
The explosion was powerful enough to blow out windows as far away as Times Square.
Flying debris from the blast also damaged the statue’s arm and torch. For safety reasons, the torch was closed to visitors.
The torch was later repaired and covered in 24-karat gold leaf in 1984.
Once the Tallest Structure
Upon its completion in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was the tallest iron structure in New York City and the world.
Later, New York created many skyscrapers that were larger than it, like the Empire State Building, the Edge NYC and many more.
Some More Fun Facts about the Statue of Liberty:
Besides these lesser-known facts, here are some creepy and fun facts about the Statue of Liberty:
Original Name: Its original and complete name is “Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World.”
Closer to New Jersey: Although the Statue of Liberty is located in New York Harbor and is part of New York, it is geographically nearer to the New Jersey shore.
This means that taking the Statue of Liberty ferry from Liberty State Park is shorter.
Off-Centered Head: The Statue of Liberty’s head is slightly off-center. This design choice ensures the statue’s balance and is not noticeable from the ground.
Red to Green: It was originally red in color due to copper material, but the copper oxidized and turned green over time.
Moving Foot: The Statue of Liberty is standing; one unique feature is that her right foot is in mid-stride and moving forward. This represents the idea of advancing toward liberty.
Lightning: According to certain data, the Statue of Liberty is struck by lightning approximately 600 times each year.
Hollywood Star: The Statue of Liberty is a Hollywood icon that has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including Ghostbusters II, The Day After Tomorrow, X-Men, and many more.
FAQs:
1. What is Lady Liberty’s real name?
The statue’s full name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
2. Why is the Statue of Liberty so famous?
The Statue of Liberty is famous for being a symbol of freedom and democracy.
3. Who created the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty was created by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, with assistance from engineer Gustave Eiffel, who is famous for designing the Eiffel Tower.
4. What 3 things does the Statue of Liberty represent?
The Statue of Liberty represents freedom, inspiration, and hope.
5. Why is Lady Liberty a girl?
The statue is modeled after Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, and personifies liberty and freedom as a female figure.
6. What are some historical facts about the Statue of Liberty?
The statue arrived in New York Harbor in 1885. It was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
Over the years, the statue has undergone several restoration efforts to preserve its structure and appearance. One notable restoration was completed in the 1980s.
7. What are 3 fun facts about the Statue of Liberty?
Some fun facts about Lady Liberty are:
- The statue’s head is slightly off-center.
- 40 people can stand on her head and 14 on her torch.
- Her right foot is also moving forward.
8. How long did the Statue of Liberty function as a lighthouse?
The Statue of Liberty functioned as a lighthouse for 16 years, from 1886 to 1902.
9. Why did the Statue of Liberty stop being a lighthouse?
The statue ceased its lighthouse function in 1902 due to its ineffective light without an amplifying lens, making it less useful for guiding ships.
10. What is the mystery of the Statue of Liberty?
The mystery is that the original model may have been an Egyptian woman.
Its sculptor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, was inspired by the colossal figures guarding Nubian tombs and initially proposed a statue for the Suez Canal.
Later, he used a similar sketch to create the Statue of Liberty.
11. How was the Statue of Liberty transported here?
The Statue of Liberty was transported aboard the French Navy ship Isère from France to New York. It was disassembled into 300 pieces for transportation.
12. How much did the Statue of Liberty Pedestal cost?
The 151-foot-tall statue cost $250,000, paid for by the French, and the pedestal, at 154 feet, cost $270,000, paid for by American sources.
13. Why did France gift the Statue of Liberty?
France gifted the Statue of Liberty to honor the alliance between France and the USA during the American Revolution and to commemorate the 100 years of its independence.
14. How is the Statue of Liberty protected from lightning?
The statue’s copper skin acts as a protective layer, allowing lightning currents to pass through the patina and reach the inner iron structure, minimizing damage to the surface.
15. What connection does the Statue of Liberty have with WWI?
During World War I, the Statue of Liberty was damaged by an explosion. On July 30, 1916, the blast caused significant damage to the statue’s arm and torch.
Featured Image: History.com
