Statue of Liberty in New York history information fact, and trivia

The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York. It is like no other symbol associated with American freedom, which was the dream of immigrants from all over the world arriving at the shores of the USA. On the plaque located at the statue’s feet are the words of a sonnet by American poet Emma Lazarus:

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

Today, the United States is not as open to visitors from abroad as it was a hundred years ago, but the beautiful woman on the pedestal still holds her torch high, reminding us of how important freedom is.

The Statue of Liberty in New York as a symbol of the United States

Initially, the Statue of Liberty was named Liberty Enlightening the World. The monumental statue depicts a young woman holding a tablet in her left hand with the date July 4, 1776 (JULY IV MDCCLXXVI), which marks the day of the United States of America’s independence.

In her right hand, held high towards the sky, the statue holds a torch whose flame symbolizes victory and immortality. The woman’s feet rest upon large, broken chains, representing the breaking free from captivity. She wears a crown on her head with seven rays, signifying hope for freedom across all continents of the world.

With the torch held high, the Statue of Liberty was the first sight for immigrants arriving in the United States. It’s no wonder that in many later literary, film, and theatrical works created by them, the Statue of Liberty Island appears very frequently. The Statue of Liberty has become an integral part of New York City’s character, and it’s difficult to imagine this great and beautiful city today without its green lady.

The Statue of Liberty in New York its history and origin

During the American Revolutionary War, the French formed an alliance with the Americans and significantly supported their fight. The Statue of Liberty was intended to be a symbol and commemoration of those events. Additionally, the French were greatly impressed by the rapid development of the young nation. Therefore, they decided to present a gift to the United States on the occasion of its centennial anniversary, symbolizing a lasting connection between the two nations.

The Statue of Liberty, standing on a tall pedestal at the entrance to the port of New York, was created between 1884 and 1886. The concept and design were by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The intricate structure was executed by the well-known Gustave Eiffel, the same individual responsible for the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Bartholdi mentioned that during the initial conception of his idea, he drew inspiration from the painting Liberty Leading the People by French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix, which you can find in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The monumental Statue of Liberty was initially erected in Paris and was officially handed over to the Ambassador of the United States of America. Subsequently, the enormous statue was dismantled into over 300 pieces and transported by sea to America. On site, all the pieces were assembled, and on October 28, 1886, the unveiling ceremony took place, presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

The authorities of New York decided to place the Statue of Liberty on a small island known as Bedloe’s Island, which was later renamed Liberty Island. The foundation for the massive pedestal on which the statue stands is the former defensive fort, Fort Wood, constructed in the shape of a star, a standard design in fortifications of that time.

The residents of New York fell in love with this beautiful symbol of freedom, as evidenced by the fact that over 200,000 city inhabitants welcomed the ship carrying parts of the monument in the port of New York. They also demonstrated their generosity when donations were collected for the construction of the pedestal upon which the statue would stand. Local newspapers reported that nearly 130,000 individuals financially supported the pedestal construction project.

During our visit to New York, the Statue of Liberty was indeed one of the most important destinations for us, and it left a profound impression. Its enormity becomes truly apparent when standing at the base of the pedestal and gazing upward.

Visiting The Statue of Liberty in New York and practical information

As the Statue of Liberty stands on a small island, reaching it requires utilizing the extensive services of various ferry operators, whose boats and ships continually navigate the Hudson River.

There are two ways to experience the Statue of Liberty:

Circle Cruise around the Statue of Liberty in New York

Firstly, you can embark on a cruise along the Hudson River and sail around Liberty Island. This is a quite popular and, importantly, a fast and budget-friendly way of exploring. Depending on the time of day you choose, you can view the Statue of Liberty in the daylight or during sunset. Personally, I recommend the latter option.

Statue of Liberty in New York Such a cruise lasts about 2 hours and doesn’t provide the opportunity to disembark on the island. Various cruise companies have ports all over Manhattan and New Jersey. The average ticket price is around $30, but this can vary significantly, especially during the peak tourist season. In such cases, I advise getting your ticket through the cruise company’s website.

An additional advantage of this type of cruise around the Statue of Liberty is that you’ll be able to admire the southern part of Manhattan and the western shores of New Jersey from different perspectives on the Hudson River. At the end of the day, as the sun sets over the Atlantic, the view of the towering steel and glass skyscrapers in the cityscape is simply breathtaking.

Many companies also offer cruises around Manhattan, so you can enjoy two amazing experiences in one go.

Visiting The Statue of Liberty in New York entry to The Statue

The second way of visiting the statue is by taking a ferry to Liberty Island. It’s worth choosing this option when the island is less crowded. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck in long lines for each attraction, and since the time allowed by the ferry company for exploring the island is limited, such an experience could end up being frustrating and disappointing. You could consider extending your stay on the island and catching one of the subsequent ferries, but during peak crowds, stress is difficult to avoid.

Once you decide to visit Lady Liberty personally, you can access several observation points on the island, offering panoramic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the New York Harbor.

On the island, you’ll also find the Statue of Liberty Museum, where you can discover a wealth of information about the iconic monument and its remarkable history.

Of course, the highlight of this trip will be entering the interior of the Statue of Liberty herself. Here, you have a choice when purchasing tickets. The Statue of Liberty has three levels, and you need to decide which one you’d like to reach.

• General Admission Ticket – This is the basic ticket that allows you to get to the island and explore it, without the possibility of entering the interior of the Statue of Liberty.
• Crown Reserve Ticket – With this option, you will sail to the island and have the opportunity to ascend to the highest visitor-accessible observation platform located in the crown of the Statue of Liberty. The crown observation point is situated over 60 meters above sea level. Crown tickets are highly popular but also the hardest to secure since the number of people allowed to the top is limited.
• Pedestal Reserve Ticket – Similar to the above, but you will only be able to access the observation deck located in the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. Tickets for this area, like those for the crown, are limited, and it’s advisable to secure them well in advance.

Tickets purchased online should be printed and exchanged for actual tickets at the Will Call window. You can also keep them electronically on your phone, but I, personally, witnessed a situation where someone’s phone wouldn’t work, and an entire group of people was left on the shore because all their tickets were on that device. Remember, paper is reliable.

Link to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York Keep in mind that every person boarding the ferry and then the island will be thoroughly checked. Additionally, before entering the Statue of Liberty, you’ll need to leave your luggage in a designated locker. Furthermore, those who buy tickets online will receive priority status for attractions. So, if you purchase your ticket at the counter, you might find yourself standing and waiting while glancing at the slow-moving lines. However, if you obtain your ticket online, you can take advantage of the Reserved Tickets Only entrance.

Every ticket is purchased for a specific time, but it’s not the time when the ferry departs, but the time you can go through the security check. And finally, as always, I advise you to go on a weekday rather than battling the weekend crowds.

Tourists at the Statue of Liberty Ticket prices are $24 for adults and $12 for children aged 4 to 12. For more up-to-date information regarding prices, timings, and special events, I recommend referring to the website with attractive prices and promotions.

A trip to the Statue of Liberty is a fantastic idea, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. We had a wonderful time, and we experienced many adventures that we’ll probably share about later. Just remember to have fun, prepare thoroughly, and you’ll avoid troubles, delays, and stress.

We’re more than happy to answer any questions you might have and look forward to hearing about your experience.

Statue of Liberty information, facts, and trivia

• Lady Liberty was a gift to the Americans from the French nation.
• The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters (305 feet) tall.
• The height of the pedestal on which the statue stands is 47 meters (154 feet).
• The Statue of Liberty, without the pedestal, weighs 229 tons.
• At its widest point, the statue measures 11 meters (36 feet).
• To reach the crown of the Statue of Liberty, one must climb 354 steps.
• The statue’s figure is made of steel and copper.
• Inside the Statue of Liberty are three spiral staircases.
• The stairs leading to the observation deck on the pedestal.
• The stairs leading to the observation deck in the crown of the statue.
• And the stairs leading to a point in the torch (inaccessible to visitors).
• The structural steel of the Statue of Liberty was designed and executed by Gustave Eiffel.
• The cost of placing the statue on Liberty Island was $102,000 in the currency of the time.
• Two individuals committed suicide by jumping from the statue’s observation deck.
• The statue is covered in copper, which over time has developed a greenish patina due to chemical reactions with the atmosphere.
• The first part of the Statue of Liberty to arrive in New York was its arm, displayed in Central Park for several years.
• The first part of the statue that could be visited was a large toe. This detail’s size provided an idea of the statue’s enormity.
• The pedestal, and subsequently the statue, were placed on the remnants of an old Victorian defensive fort from the Civil War era called Fort Wood.
• The flame in the torch held by the statue is made of gold leaf.
• Originally, the Statue of Liberty had a shiny copper colour, but over time, it developed a patina that gave it a greenish hue.
• The Statue of Liberty was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
• The Statue of Liberty is frequently struck by lightning, as it acts as an ideal conductor and one of the tallest points on the river. It gets hit by lightning over 600 times each year.
• There’s an exact replica of the statue in Paris, but it’s four times smaller.
• The statue on the pedestal is positioned to welcome those arriving in New York.
• Every year, well over 4 million tourists from around the world visit the Statue of Liberty.
• The statue’s right foot is raised as if preparing to march, symbolizing that freedom moves forward and reaches everyone.
• Initially, the idea of a liberty monument was intended for Egypt, but it was rejected.
• The crown of the statue contains an observation deck with 25 windows, providing an incredible view of the city.
• Allegedly, the statue’s face is modelled after the sculptor Auguste’s mother’s likeness.

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