The Statue of Liberty is a national landmark and one of the main symbols of the United States of America. This one was donated to the United States by the French people who support them in their struggle for independence. According to the architects' ideas, the Statue of Liberty is positioned as a symbol of democracy and independence.
The idea of this architectural structure appeared in 1865 and belongs to a Frenchman named Edouard de Laboulaye. To realize this idea in practice, he was helped by a then unknown sculptor named Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. As a result, it was conceived to design a huge lighthouse in the form of a woman holding a torch in her right outstretched hand. According to the idea, it is the torch that illuminates the way for the sailors heading to the New York port.
This monument-lighthouse was designed and built by the famous Gustave Eiffel ( Eiffel tower in Paris). The result is a steel frame with a weight of 125 tons and a height of 93 meters along with a plinth. The lighthouse is built in such a way that inside the statue you can freely move and climb the stairs to the most important observation deck located in. By the way, the lighthouse has already been restored several times: modern lighting elements (laser illumination) have been added to it.
Where is the Statue of Liberty
It was erected on Bedlow Island (Liberty Island) in New York. The opening of this architectural landmark took place in 1886, accompanied by cannon shots, fireworks and a siren. Since then, the legendary Statue of Liberty has met ships entering the port of New York every day and welcomes tourists from different parts of the world. By the way, the full name of this monument sounds like this: "Freedom that illuminates the world." Currently, there is the very first model of the Statue of Liberty, which can be seen in Paris near the famous Eiffel Tower.
Why the Statue of Liberty stands in New York
The fact is that the place for the future lighthouse was chosen by the sculptor Bartholdi himself. It was he who decided that the future pedestal should stand on Bedlow Island (Liberty Island), located 3 kilometers from southern border Manhattan. The sculptor assured that this place is the best solution in the location of a woman with a torch, who from day to day will meet ships heading for New York and illuminate their way. According to Bartholdi, it is Freedom Island that allows you to bring the original idea to life to the fullest.
According to some reports, the Statue of Liberty was originally intended to be erected in Port Said, located in the Suez Canal, which, in turn, connects the two seas - the Red and Mediterranean. However, this project was not implemented, and it was decided to erect the future lighthouse in the United States.
For over a century, Freedom Illuminating the World has welcomed all travelers to New York Harbor and is one of the world's most famous monuments, a symbol of the United States.
History of the statue of liberty
Soon after termination Civil war In the United States, the French scientist and writer Edouard de Laboulay, who admired the ideas of the American system of statehood, came up with the idea of creating a monument that personified the acquisition of the United States' independence.
The idea was picked up by another Frenchman, Frederic Bartholdi (architect of the Statue of Liberty), who at that time was working on the creation of a female sculpture with a torch in hand. Already in 1870, the French sculptor made the first sketches of the monument, with which he was sent to the United States for approval of the project. The project is approved by the American side (including from Ulysses Grant, who was at that time the President of the United States), and representatives of the two powers (France and the United States) decide to start building a monument called "Freedom Illuminating the World."
By mutual consent of the parties, it is decided that the monument will be a gift to the United States from France for the centenary of the proclamation of the US Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1876. By agreement between the countries, the sculpture itself was to be designed by the French side, and the American side would work on the creation of the pedestal.
However, the construction of the monument lasted for 10 long years ...
Hand with torch
After starting work on the project, it becomes clear that the money for the creation of the monument is sorely lacking. On both sides of the ocean, the initiators of the project are beginning to raise funds for construction, various charitable events are organized.
In August 1876, Bartholdi was forced to bring part of the sculpture (a hand with a torch) to the United States, where the fragment is installed at the centenary exhibition in Philadelphia, and then in Madison Square. Visitors are charged a fee to visit the hand with a torch, but the proceeds are still not enough to complete the construction.
The US Congress is refusing to allocate funds for the construction of the monument, citing the disastrous state of American finances and the untimely construction of an "allegorical" monument, while the country needs monuments to the heroes of the Civil War.
A young journalist Joseph Pulitzer comes to the rescue, launching a large-scale fundraising campaign for the monument in the press. The journalist calls on the Americans to unite, fiercely criticizes the indifferent, and promises to write about everyone who made at least a small donation. The action is a success, and after a few months the required amount was raised.
The fragment returns to France, where Bartholdi begins to work hard on the project: by 1878 the sculptor had already completed the head of the sculpture, and in 1879 Gustave Eiffel was involved in the creation of the monument. It was this talented engineer who designed the statue's steel frame and spiral staircases leading up to the crown. Bartholdi and his assistants made 350 trim parts, which were to be worn on the frame. The parts were made of copper, which is easy to cut and bend, which made it possible to "fit" the parts right during the assembly process.
The figure of Liberty was hung by the French in 1884, after which the structure was disassembled, and all the details of the sculpture were delivered by ship in June 1885 to the United States.
The American side wasted no time either: the statue's pedestal, designed by Richard Hunt, began to be erected in 1883. With the consent of Congress and taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi, Fort Wood, in the shape of an eleven-pointed star, and located on Bedloe Island in the harbor, was chosen as the site for the statue.
In April 1986, the plinth was completed and the assembly of the complete structure of the monument began. Finally, on October 26, 1886, the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty took place: President Cleveland, after holding a parade, went to Bedloe Island, where, to everyone's jubilation, he tore down the French flag that covered the statue and proclaimed that "Liberty itself has made this place its home!"
general description
Three kilometers from bustling Manhattan, in the bay, the majestic Statue of Liberty meets all guests, travelers and their citizens.
The monumental monument, 93 meters high, consists of the female figure (46 meters) and a concrete pedestal (47 meters). The female figure holds a torch in her right hand, while in her left she clutches a tablet on which the date of the United States Independence Day is engraved in Latin letters.
At the foot of the monument there is a broken chain that symbolizes the thrown off shackles of slavery and the victory of democracy. There are windows in the crown, symbolizing the rays of the sun and gems land. To get to the windows, you need to climb 354 steps, and if you climb just to the top of the pedestal - 194 steps. There is an elevator inside the pedestal.
The total weight is over 200 tons (together with a cement base, copper coating and a steel frame), and the length of the Statue of Liberty is 93 meters (including the pedestal).
At the bottom of the pedestal is a bronze slab with poems by Emma Lazarus, which appeared here in 1903. The poetess's words were written after a wave of pogroms that swept across Europe in the late 1880s, after which crowds of immigrants rushed to the shores of America in the hope of finding a new homeland. The poems convey the idea of the Statue of Liberty - the readiness to accept under one's roof all the outcast and disadvantaged, and the promise to give them freedom and equality on this shore.
The visit to the Island of Liberty and the Statue itself is free, but you can only get to it by water - by ferries and boats, where you will have to pay a certain amount for the trip. You can get to the Statue itself without hindrance, but the number of visitors is strictly fixed. If you do not book your ticket in advance, the visit will be limited to a walk around the pedestal and climb observation deck, where you can see the Statue from the inside through a special glass ceiling.
The Statue of Liberty is open for visits all year round, but it is better to take an excursion in the warm season - in winter, a boat trip will bring very dubious extreme pleasures due to the cold northern winds typical for this time of the year.
Interesting Facts
The history of the Statue of Liberty is inseparable from the history of the United States itself, therefore it is accompanied by a mass of amazing and entertaining facts:
- The personification of the friendship of two peoples: French and American, which formed the basis for the creation of the monument, was happily forgotten over time. Now the Statue of Liberty is presented in the world exclusively as the main symbol of the United States, personifying the victory of democracy and the country's independence.
- The seven rays emanating from the crown are the seven seas and continents of light, from which travelers sail to America, hoping to find refuge and a new homeland. It is a symbol of hope for all the persecuted, disadvantaged, a haven for sailors and refugees from all over the world.
- Initially, Bartholdi worked on the creation of a female figure with a torch in her hand to install it at the entrance to the Suez Canal - this project was never implemented, but served as a prototype for another monument. The Statue of Liberty combines two images - the goddess of freedom of ancient Rome Libertas and the symbol of Colombia.
- The characteristic green color of the statue is given by the sheathing of the structure, made of copper. Initially, projects were proposed to clean the surface, but then it was decided not to touch the cladding, which protects the statue from further destructive corrosion.
- Initially, the Statue of Liberty was supposed to be used as a lighthouse, but the lamps built into the structure did not differ in power. Finding no practical use for the statue, the government's lighthouse division donated the monument to the United States War Department in 1901. Already in 1933, the monument was transferred to the Department of the Service national parks USA.
- Bedlow Island, previously considered a slum area, significantly changed its status with the establishment of the monument, and in 1956 it was renamed Liberty Island, and 10 years later it was included in the National Register. historical sites U.S.A.
- By the 100th anniversary of the creation of the monument, a thorough reconstruction of the monument was carried out (sea spray and cold winds thoroughly spoiled appearance Statues), initiated by President Reagan. This time, funds for reconstruction among American citizens were raised as soon as possible, and more than covered the $ 2 million spent on repairs.
- Since the establishment of the Statue, access to visitors has been closed several times: for the period from 1982 to 1986 (reconstruction), from September 2001 to the end of 2004 (due to the threat of terrorist attacks), and also in October 2013 (during the suspension of government ).
- After the successful Normandy operation, the statue's lighthouse lights broadcast the message of victory to the world in Morse code.
UNESCO listed the American statue as a World Heritage Site in 1984, describing it as a symbol of peace, glorifying the power of the human spirit, the abolition of slavery, the victory of democracy and human rights.
The erected Statue of Liberty at the beginning of the twentieth century became the personification of independence, prosperity, a free life for many travelers who crossed the Atlantic in search of better life.
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- ... And in 6 states there is not a single city where more than 99,999 people live. The cities of the USA can be called unique because they all differ from each other not only in climatic and historical indicators, but also because almost every city has its own individual ethnic composition... A large number of immigrants from all over the world created settlements and, settling in the territory of the States, gave the existing culture their own flavor. Perhaps it is because of this that not a single language is officially approved in the United States, but the most common is English in the American manner. Los Angeles is the 2nd largest city in the USA The names of cities in the USA are symbolic, but we may find some, to put it mildly, unusual. For example, Big Ugly, which we will translate as "Big and Ugly." And on the map of the United States there are as many as three cities that bear official name"Santa Claus". A lot of other things may seem strange in US cities. For example, the fact that almost 1/3 of the cleaners, janitors and waiters here have a complete higher education, but they are not nearly ashamed of such work. Or the fact that no one by law prohibits smoking by minors, but selling cigarettes to them is categorically forbidden. The world's first skyscraper, a local TV channel, the first parking and traffic light high mountain and a large freshwater lake - all these are advantages different cities exactly the United States, so there are plenty of reasons to visit each of them. 10 "most" cities in America You can't argue that every city in the States is unique, but among them leaders can still be distinguished according to one criterion or another: the most Old city in the USA - St. Augustine, which was founded in 1565 in the state of Florida; the city with the largest area is Sitka. It occupies almost 7.5 sq. km in the state of Alaska; the largest population lives in New York - more than 8 million people. But in the same city the strictest definition of the boundaries of each district is observed; the most densely populated cities located in California; the very first city in which a cinema was opened was Los Angeles, it happened in 1902; the city with the "lowest" buildings, that is, without the high-rise buildings familiar to America, is Washington. The height of each building, except for the Capitol, does not exceed 40 m; the largest population outflow was observed in the city of Detroit. In the middle of the 20th century, it was home to nearly 2 million people, and today - less than 700 thousand. By the way, this is the city with the most tense criminal situation in the United States; the poorest city in the States - Allen, just over 95% of its population are Indians; the very first city in which electricity was installed was Ouabash, this is the state of Indiana; the most "British" city in the United States - Byron. 5.3% of its residents were born in the UK. "> Cities 7
- and cultural and historical (were created by man for a relatively a little story development of this land. The Miracles of American Nature Times Square historical monuments Recommended to visit Times Square, Golden Gate Bridge, Walt Disney Amusement Park, the Pentagon, the White House, the Empire State Building and, of course, the symbols of the United States - the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Disneyland - the world's largest amusement park - located in Florida. It brings together themed kingdoms, each of which has a fairy tale for children and adults. White House Times Square is an iconic place in New York. A little over 100 years ago, the construction of the American subway began on this site. The square is named after The New York Times, the most widely read American newspaper, whose publisher is located here. The White House in Washington is America's main building. It houses the state government. The complex of buildings is surrounded by gardens that were created by the first ladies of the country. A lot of others interesting places can be seen firsthand by visiting the United States. "> sights3
- National parks 2
- and cities equated to them in status. In total, there are more than 3 thousand districts. The districts are governed by municipalities, the rights of which are determined individually by each state. The United States also includes federal district Columbia, where the capital of the state is located - the city of Washington. In cooperation with the United States, there are several independent territories, which can later become full states or terminate relations. These include Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and East Samoa and other regions. How many states are there in the USA? State of Alaska The list of US states consists of fifty items. When the federation was formed, thirteen colonies were included in the state. The rest of the states joined voluntarily, either through commercial deals or hostilities. Among them there are record holders. In terms of maximum area, the first place is occupied by snowy Alaska, acquired in Russian Empire v late XIX century. The most populous state is sunny and warm California, with over 35 million inhabitants. "> States 3
Most popular
On October 28, 1886, under cannon shots, sirens, and incessant fireworks, the most famous monument United States of America - the legendary Statue of Liberty. From this day on, every ship entering the port of New York meets a stone statue of a woman with a torch of freedom in her hand, outstretched to the sky.
History of the Statue of Liberty
Oddly enough, the main symbol of the freedom of the United States is the brainchild of French craftsmen. It was in Paris that the Statue was born. Then it was taken apart and transported through. Here it was reassembled and installed on a powerful plinth, which the Americans themselves had built Bedloe's Island, now Liberty Island. Liberty Island, on which the statue is located, is a federal property in the state of New York. The island is located closer to the coast of New Jersey, which is why some people mistakenly attribute it to the state of New Jersey.
The idea to create the Statue of Liberty came from academician Edouard de Laboulaye in 1865. The author of the Statue of Liberty itself is a sculptor from Alsace, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who was still a young and unknown master at that time. Several years earlier, Bartholdi had conceived the construction of a huge lighthouse on the Suez Canal. According to his plans, this lighthouse should be in the form of a female figure. The sculpture was supposed to hold a torch in its hands, the light from which was supposed to illuminate the way for the sailors. But at one time the venture with a lighthouse on the Suez Canal was rejected. That is why the young sculptor responded with great enthusiasm to the idea of Edouard de Laboulaye.
When creating the sculpture, Bartholdi often referred to Delacroix's painting "Freedom Leading the People to the Barricades." It was the image of Liberty from this canvas that became the main prototype for the Statue of Liberty. According to one version, Bartholdi even had an American model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, the wife of Isaac Singer, a sewing machine entrepreneur. "... As a beautiful French widow of an American entrepreneur, she proved to be a suitable model for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty." (Ruth Brandon, Singer and the Sewing Machine: A Capitalist Romance).
The engineer Gustave Eiffel, who would later become famous as the author of the famous, was invited to create the statue. Eiffel designed an ingenious metal frame structure that was supported by a central pillar. On this movable frame, the outer, that is, the visible shell of the statue, made of 2.4 millimeters thick copper, was reinforced. Bartholdi began by building a small figure, only 1.2 meters in size, and then made three more, gradually making them larger. They were adjusted and completed until the optimal version was reached.
By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal, and - to create a statue and install it in the United States. To avoid financial difficulties, special funds were organized to raise funds. In France, funds were raised by organizing entertainment events and lotteries. They organized theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing fights. However, fundraising for the podium was slow, and Joseph Pulitzer (known as the founder of the Pulitzer Prize) appealed to his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project. This had an effect and increased American donations.
The statue was completed in France in July 1884 and was delivered to New York harbor on June 17, 1885 aboard the French frigate Ysere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and packed in 214 boxes. The statue was assembled on its new foundation in four months. The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, which was attended by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators.
In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was listed World Heritage... In 1986, before the centenary, the monument was temporarily closed for careful restoration and reopened to the public on July 5, 1986.
Features of the Statue of Liberty
Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the national symbols of the United States. Towering at the mouth of the Hudson at the entrance to New York Harbor, the torch-carrying woman in graceful, flowing robes represents the freedom and empowerment of a country. She wears a crown with seven prongs, representing the seven seas and seven continents. At the woman's feet are the torn bonds of tyranny. In her left hand, the woman holds a plate with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, inscribed on it.
The statue was made from thin sheets of copper, minted in wooden molds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.
The height of the Statue (by the way, originally it was called more pretentiously - "Freedom, bringing light to the world") - 46 meters, so if we also take into account the 47-meter pedestal, the top of the torch is at a height of 93 meters above the ground. The weight of the monument is 205 tons. The length of the right hand, in which the torch is, is 12.8 meters, with only one index finger being 2.4 meters long, and the width of the mouth is 91 centimeters.
A spiral staircase inside the statue leads tourists to the top. The statue is usually open to visitors who usually arrive by ferry. The crown, which can be accessed by stairs, offers expansive views of New York Harbor.
In 1972, the Museum of American Settlement was opened inside the Statue itself, which can be accessed by a special elevator. The whole history of the country is presented here: from the ancestors - the Indians who inhabited the then unknown continent, and right up to the mass migration in the current century.
Opinions about the Statue of Liberty are completely contradictory. Nothing like this had been seen in America before the erection of this sculpture. Connoisseurs noted the high technique of execution, clarity of proportions and graceful lines. But opponents of those who recognized the Freedom Monument as the eighth wonder of the world noted that the symbol of Freedom in the image of a statue is interpreted too coldly and dispassionately. It is not by chance that the epithet appeared that Freedom is "blind", and greatness is conveyed only in large sizes.
However, evil tongues are not an obstacle to Freedom. Throughout the world, the Statue is considered the Symbol of the United States, embodying the democratic principles that this country is so proud of.
Since 1984, the Statue of Liberty has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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The sculpture is a gift from France for the 1876 World's Fair and the centenary of American independence. The statue holds a torch in its right hand and a tablet in its left. The inscription on the tablet reads “Eng. JULY IV MDCCLXXVI "(written in Roman numerals the date" July 4, 1776 "), this date is the date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. With one foot "Svoboda" stands on broken shackles.
Visitors walk 356 steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown, which symbolize earthly gems and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The seven rays on the crown of the statue symbolize the seven seas and seven continents (the western geographical tradition has exactly seven continents).
The total weight of the copper used to cast the statue is 31 tons, and the total weight of its steel structure is 125 tons. The total weight of the concrete base is 27,000 tons. The thickness of the copper coating of the statue is 2.57 mm.
Height from ground to torch tip is 93 meters including base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.
The statue was built from thin sheets of copper, minted in wooden molds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.
The statue is usually open to visitors, usually arriving by ferry. The crown, which can be accessed by stairs, offers expansive views of New York Harbor. The museum, housed in a pedestal, houses an exhibition of the history of the statue. The museum can be reached by lift.
The territory of Liberty Island originally belonged to the state of New Jersey, was later administered by New York, and is currently under federal administration. Until 1956, the island was called Bedlow Island. Bedloe "s Island), although it was also called the "Island of Freedom" since the beginning of the 20th century.
Statue of Liberty in numbers
Sculpture parts Meters Height from ground to torch tip 93 m Statue height 33.86 m Hand length 5.00 m Index finger length 2.44 m Head from crown to chin 5.26 m Face width 3.05 m Eye length 0.76 m Nose length 1.37 m Right arm length 12.80 m Right arm thickness 3.66 m Waist thickness 10.67 m Mouth width 0.91 m Plate height 7.19 m Plate width 4.14 m Plate thickness 0.61 m Height from the ground to the top of the pedestal 46.94 m Making the statue
The idea of creating the monument is attributed to Édouard Rene Lefebvre de Laboulay, a prominent French thinker, writer and politician, president of the French anti-slavery society. According to French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, it was expressed in a conversation with him in mid-1865 under the impression of the victory of the anti-slavery forces in the American Civil War. Although this was not a specific proposal, the idea inspired the sculptor.
The repressive political situation during the reign of Napoleon III in France did not allow the implementation of the idea. At the end of the 1860s, Bartholdi for some time managed to interest the building huge statue, reminiscent of the Colossus of Rhodes, the ruler of Egypt Ismail Pasha. The statue was originally planned to be installed in Port Said under the name The Light of Asia, but eventually the Egyptian government decided that transporting the structure from France and installing it was too costly for the Egyptian economy.
It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal, and France to create a statue and install it in the United States. However, the lack of money was felt on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and the lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing matches have been held to raise funds.
Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, the wife of Isaac Singer, the creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines.
Meanwhile, in France, Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve design issues related to the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (future creator of the Eiffel Tower) was tasked with designing a massive steel leg and intermediate support frame that would allow the statue's copper shell to move freely while maintaining an upright position. Eiffel handed over the detailed designs to his assistant, an experienced structural engineer, Maurice Kechlin. The copper for the statue was purchased from the existing stock at the company's warehouses. Société des métaux entrepreneur Eugene Sekretana... Its origin has not been documented, but research in 1985 showed that it was mainly mined in Norway on the island of Karmoy. The legend of the supply of copper from Russia was tested by enthusiasts, but was not confirmed. Moreover, railways in Ufa and Nizhniy Tagil were carried out later than construction; accordingly, the version of the supply of ore cannot be considered seriously. It is also noteworthy that the concrete base under the statue is made of German cement. Dickerhoff won a tender to supply cement for the foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York, which was to become the world's largest concrete structure at the time.
Before completion design work Bartholdi organized in the workshop Gaget, Gauthier & Co the beginning of work on the right hand of the statue holding a torch.
In May 1876, Bartholdi participated in the French delegation at the World's Fair in Philadelphia and organized the display of numerous paintings of the statue at the festivities in New York dedicated to this exhibition. Due to the late registration, the hand of the statue was not included in the catalogs of the exhibits; nevertheless, it was shown to visitors and made a strong impression. Visitors had access to the torch balcony, from where they could admire the panorama of the exhibition complex. In reports, she was called "Colossal Hand" and "Bartholdi's Electric Light". After the end of the exhibition, the hand with the torch was transported from Philadelphia to New York and was installed in Madison Square, where it stood for several years until it was temporarily returned to France to be connected with the rest of the statue.
The site for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by the 1877 Act of Congress, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi himself, on Bedlow Island, where early XIX century there was a fort in the shape of a star.
Fundraising for the pedestal progressed slowly, and Joseph Pulitzer (known for the Pulitzer Prize) in his newspaper "World" made an appeal to support fundraising for the project.
By August 1885, funding problems for the pedestal designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt had been resolved and the foundation stone was laid on August 5. Construction was completed on April 22, 1886. The massive stonework of the pedestal has two square lintels made of steel beams; they are connected by steel anchor beams that extend upward to become part of the Eiffelian (reminiscent of the frame of the Eiffel Tower) frame of the statue itself. Thus, the statue and the pedestal are one.
The statue was completed by the French in July 1884 and delivered to New York harbor on June 17, 1885 aboard the French frigate Ysere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and packed in 214 boxes. (Her right hand with a torch, completed earlier, had already been exhibited at the World's Fair in Philadelphia, and then in Madison Square, New York.) The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, attended by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators. As a French gift for the centenary of the American Revolution, it was ten years late.
The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated its centenary on October 28, 1986.
Statue as a cultural monument
The statue was placed on a granite pedestal inside Fort Wood, built for the war of 1812, whose walls are lined in the shape of a star. The US Lighthouse Service was responsible for maintaining the statue until 1901. After 1901, this mission was entrusted to the War Department. By presidential decree of October 15, 1924, Fort Wood (and the statue on its territory) was declared a National Monument, the boundaries of which coincided with the boundaries of the fort.
On October 28, 1936, at the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of the statue, US President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Freedom and peace are living things. In order for them to continue to exist, each generation must protect them and put new life into them. "
In 1933, the maintenance of the national monument was transferred to the National Park Service. On September 7, 1937, the area of the national monument was enlarged and expanded to cover the entire Bedlow Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Memorial. In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan commissioned Lee Iacocca to lead a private sector movement to restore the Statue of Liberty. The restoration raised $ 87 million in a partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Corporation, the most successful public-private partnership in American history... In 1984, at the beginning of its restoration work, the Statue of Liberty was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 5, the restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public during its centenary Liberty Weekend.
Statue and security
The torch staircase was closed for security reasons in 1916. In 1986, the statue was rebuilt, and its destroyed and corroded torch was moved to the main entrance and replaced with a new one covered in 24-carat gold.
The statue, including the pedestal and base, was closed on October 29, 2011, the day after the 125th anniversary of the statue, for the installation of new elevators and staircases. Although the Statue of Liberty has been closed to the public, Liberty Island remains open to the public. Exactly one year after the closure for repairs and the installation of a new complex escalator, from October 28, 2012, full access to the statue was opened up to the crown.
Images of the statue are widely used in the symbolism of regional organizations and institutions in the United States. In New York State, its outline was on license plates. Vehicle between 1986 and 2000. The New York Liberty, a professional women's basketball club serving in the Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association, uses the Statue's name in its name and its image in its emblem, which associates the statue's flame with basketball. The Liberty Head has been featured on the NHL New York Rangers' additional kits since 1997. The National Collegiate Athletic Association used the symbolic image of the statue for the 1996 men's basketball final. The US Libertarian Party emblem uses a stylized image of the Torch of Freedom.
Reproductions
Hundreds of reproductions are on display in various parts of the world. A quarter-size copy of the original, given to the city of Paris by the American Society, is set facing west towards the main statue on the Swan Isle of the Seine. The nine-meter replica that has graced the top of the Liberty Warehouse on Manhattan's 64th Street for many years is now on display at the Brooklyn Museum. The organization of American scouts during the celebration of its fortieth anniversary in 1949-1952 donated about two hundred copies of stamped copper, 2.5 m high, to various American states and municipalities.
see also
- Statue of Liberty in Moscow (1918-1941).
Other highest sculptures
Notes (edit)
- Statue of Liberty (in New York City).
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 attracted 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 which other countries of the world can you see copies of this work? You will learn this and much more from this article.
New York and USA symbol
Anyone with even a little interest in history knows where the Statue of Liberty is. 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 Bedlow, 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, which a talented sculptor was able to show even in work with such a huge structure, is simply amazing. Even the indigenous people regularly visit the site where the Statue of Liberty is located, and what can we say about tourists. This monument is interesting not only externally. It is distinguished by rich story... He has seen a lot during his almost two hundred-year life and will see a lot more. From a height of almost 70 meters, if you take into account 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 located, in which country?
Although the creation of this masterpiece was timed to coincide with the centenary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence 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 the work was in full swing, it was not fully known what the final version of the Statue of Liberty would look like. It is believed that even the Egyptian government was offered to receive this work of art as a gift, but it considered it too costly to transport and install.
If the shoulders of the French were entrusted with the execution of the sculpture itself, then the Americans were required to find a suitable place where the Statue of Liberty would be located after arriving in the country, and prepare a reliable pedestal for it.
Merit of two peoples
Both peoples simply sorely lacked funds to complete the work, so they went to various tricks to raise money. Theatrical performances, auctions, charity 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 required amount of funds was collected and the work was completed, albeit with a delay of ten years from the planned completion date, but today this is not so important.
Equally well-known analogues
Located on Liberty Island, the statue has equally 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 for 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 of them in Paris alone. The Paris Museum houses a scaled-down model of a New York statue and is the most significant for history buffs. Just two meters high copy 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 reciprocal gift from the Americans to the French and is set in the direction to the west, that is, as if facing the original. It symbolizes peace between the two peoples.
It deserves attention
In the place where the life of everyone's beloved Princess Diana was tragically cut short, there is also a Freedom Monument. It was erected long before the tragic events, but it became especially visited after them. His torch is constantly filled with bouquets of flowers that the fans of the deceased bring.
Tourists visiting Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer do not leave this city without a photo taken near the gilded sculpture. Its shape is copied from the New York original, but the luminous torch sets it apart from all its brethren. "Luminous Freedom" - this is how the locals call it.
On a small square in Poitiers, in memory of Frederic Bartholdi, who created that very American statue, a copy of his masterpiece was also installed on the centenary of his death. The square 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 statue known to the whole world. It was made very skillfully, and every person who visits the capital of Japan will definitely bring with him 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. In which city such specimens are located, few know, but in Moscow the guides will definitely tell you about the monument to Nikolai Andreev, which, unfortunately, has not survived to this day, since it was destroyed, but the head of the monument is still kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. In Ukraine, the world's smallest Statue of Liberty, located in Uzhgorod, deserves special attention. Its height is only 30 cm, and its weight is 4 kg, but nevertheless it is quite useful, since it is an active lighthouse on the Uzh River. And in Lviv there is the world's only seated Statue of Liberty, which attracts a huge number of tourists every year.
Symbols of freedom have always been and will be relevant for any nation. Freedom and peace are among the greatest values of humanity. Being next 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.
