The observation deck in the crown of the Statue of Liberty in New York opens today.
Statue of Liberty ( Statue of Liberty), full name "Liberty Enlightening the World" - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called "a symbol of New York and the USA", "a symbol of freedom and democracy "," Lady Liberty ".
The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, about 3 km southwest of the southern tip of Manhattan, one of the districts of New York. Until 1956, the island was called Bedloe's Island.
The Statue of Liberty is a gift of the French people to the United States in honor of the centenary of US independence and as a token of friendship between the two states.
The idea of creating this symbol came from the French scientist, lawyer and supporter of the abolition of slavery, Edouard de Laboulet, back in the late 1860s. He proceeded from the fact that America and France are connected by old friendly ties. France provided moral and material support to the American struggle for independence - French General Lafayette even became national hero USA. The statue was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. With this gift, the French wanted to express their admiration for the great republic on the other side of the Atlantic. The creation of the statue was entrusted to the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi. His Statue of Liberty was inspired famous painting artist Delacroix "Freedom leading the people to the barricades". The internal supporting structure of the tower was made by Gustave Eiffel - the future creator eiffel tower.
Work on the statue was completed in France in July 1884. The statue was built from thin sheets of copper minted in wooden moulds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.
In June 1885, the statue was taken to New York Harbor aboard the French frigate Ysere. "Lady Liberty" was transported from France to the United States disassembled - it was divided into 350 parts, packed in 214 boxes. The assembly of the statue on the pedestal took four months.
September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attack on the World Shopping mall The Statue of Liberty and the island were closed to the public.
The Statue of Liberty(Eng. Statue of Liberty, full name - Freedom, illuminating the world, Eng. Liberty Enlightening the World) - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called "a symbol of New York and the USA", "a symbol of freedom and democracy ”, “Lady Liberty”. This is a gift from French citizens for the centenary of the American Revolution.
Location
The Statue of Liberty is located in New York, on Liberty Island, which is located three kilometers southwest of the coast of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty, donated by the French for the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution, was made in France in 1884 and transported to America in parts. The opening of the statue took place on October 28, 1886, ten years late to the originally planned date.Description of the object
The Statue of Liberty is a steel frame total weight which is 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. to the main observation deck located in the crown, 354 steps. 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. On the plate in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty is the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.
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.
History of occurrence
The creation of the statue was entrusted to the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, the creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines. The Statue of Liberty was originally planned to be erected in Port Said under the name The Light Of Asia, but the then Egyptian government decided that it was too costly to transport the structure from France and install it.
By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal, and France was to create a statue and install it in the United States. However, the lack of money was felt on both sides Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions, and boxing fights were held to raise funds.
Meanwhile, in France, Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve structural problems related to the construction of such a gigantic copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (future designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design a massive steel support and an intermediate support frame that would allow the statue's copper shell to move freely while maintaining vertical position. Eiffel handed over the detailed design to his assistant, an experienced structural engineer Maurice Koechlin. The copper for the statue was purchased from the available stocks in the warehouses of the company Société des métaux of the entrepreneur Eugène Secretan. Its origin has not been documented, but studies in 1985 showed that it was mainly mined in Norway on the island of Karmøy.
The legend about the supply of copper from Russia was verified by enthusiasts, but did not find confirmation. Besides, railways in Ufa and Nizhny Tagil were carried out later than construction; accordingly, the version about the supply of ore cannot be taken seriously. It is also noteworthy that the concrete base under the statue is made of German cement. Dickerhoff won the tender to supply cement for the foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York, which at the time was the largest concrete structure in the world.
The site for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by an Act of Congress in 1877, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdy himself, on Bedloe Island, where even with early XIX century there was a fort in the shape of a star.
Fundraising for the pedestal progressed slowly, and Joseph Pulitzer (of Pulitzer Prize fame) issued an appeal in his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project's fund.
By August 1885, funding problems for the pedestal, designed by the American architect Richard Morris Hunt, were resolved, and the first stone was laid on 5 August.
Construction was completed on April 22, 1886. Two square lintels made of steel beams are built into the massive masonry of the pedestal; they are connected by steel anchor beams that go up to become part of the Eiffel (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 parts and packed in 214 boxes. (Her right arm with torch, completed earlier, had already been exhibited at the World's Fair in Philadelphia in 1876, and then at Madison Square in New York.) The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The grand opening of the Statue of Liberty, at which US President Grover Cleveland spoke, 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 too late.
The national monument - the Statue of Liberty - officially celebrated its centenary on October 28, 1986.
Working mode
Time to visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island - from 9-30 to 16-30 (with an extension of the schedule in the summer months) How to get there
The entrance to the Liberty Island Park itself is free, but tourists will have to fork out a little for the ferry. Ferries run to this island, and at the same time to Ellis Island, from two berths - from Battery Park in Manhattan and from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to the other side. one of the New York bay. Moreover, upon boarding, passengers undergo a thorough screening, similar to what is available at airports around the world.From France with love
Despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is an unofficial symbol of the United States, its homeland is France, which is under neighed America in the war with Great Britain. The monument was conceived as a gift frommany freedom-loving peopleto another, but also to ameThe Ricans have contributed to the creation of a masterpiece - the pedestal of the statue is made in the USA.
Loubetter thanaboutsicker than ever
The statue could well end up in Egypt instead of New York, because the author of the monument had such plans. It was supposed to be installed as a giga Ntsky lighthouse at the entrance to the Suez Canal in the city of Port Said. Butto reach an agreement on this project and failed.
Creative duet
The Statue of Liberty was designed by the architect Frederic Bartholdi. But another famous Frenchman, engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel Tower, also worked on the monument. Bartholdi was responsible for appearance statues, while Eiffel was developing the iron shell and frame.
Travel to New York
In order to transport the statue across the ocean, the sculpture was dismantled into 350 parts and loaded onto the French frigate Isère. The complexity of the operation lay in the fact that the weight of the statue exceeded 150 tons. Already on American soil, its assembly and installation lasted four months.
Crown, stones and rays
The prototype of Freedom, according to art historians, was the famous French model Isabella Boyer, the widow of Isaac Singer, the founder of a sewing machine company. Frédéric Bartholdi gave Lady Liberty an iconic touch. So, 25 viewing windows located in the crown of the statue symbolize precious stones that are mined in the United States. And the seven rays emanating from the crown are a symbol of the seven seas and seven continents, that is, a sign of the universal spread of freedom.
Bird's-eye
To climb the observation deck located inside the crown, visitors will have to overcome 192 steps to the top of the pedestal and 356 steps already inside the monument. The reward for the effort will be a magnificent view of the coast of New York. The total height of the statue - from the base to the top of the torch - is 93 m.
Kind with healthy
The Statue of Liberty turned out to be an excellent beacon for ships heading to Manhattan past Bedloe Island, on which the monument rises. Today, the need for a lighthouse has disappeared, but the Statue of Liberty does not stand idle: a historical museum is located inside it.
American Dream Unlimited
Copies of the Statue of Liberty can be found in many cities around the world. Only in Paris there are four scaled-down replicas of the famous Lady Liberty. There is its own Freedom in Tokyo, Las Vegas, Lvov, Uzhgorod, Dnepropetrovsk.
Time is money
Entrance to the observation deck, as well as visiting the museum located inside the statue, is free. But a small amount will have to be paid to take the ferry to Bedloe Island. You will have to spend not only money, but also time: visitors are carefully examined. Precautions were heightened after September 11: for example, the crown of the Statue of Liberty became open to the public only in 2009.
History color
The Statue of Liberty often appears in the frames of various films. The creators of "Titanic" also shot one episode against the backdrop of the famous sculpture - and made a historical mistake. In the film, the statue has a familiar greenish tint. But in 1912, during the events of the film drama, the copper of the monument had not yet oxidized and was of a noble metallic color.
Features of the Statue of Liberty
Features of the Statue of Liberty Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of national symbols USA. Rising at the mouth of the Hudson at the entrance to New York Harbor, a woman in elegant, flowing clothes, carrying a torch, personifies the freedom and opportunities of the country. On her head is a crown with seven prongs representing the seven seas and seven continents. At the feet of a woman are the broken bonds of tyranny. In the woman's left hand, she holds a slab 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 moulds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame. The height of the Statue (by the way, it was originally called more pathetically - “Freedom, bringing light world") - 46 meters, so if we 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 12.8 meters, and only one forefinger has a length of 2.4 meters, a mouth width of 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 reached by stairs, offers extensive views of New York Harbor. In 1972, the Museum of American Settlement was opened inside the Statue itself, which can be reached 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 up to the mass migration in the current century. Opinions about the Statue of Liberty are completely contradictory. Nothing like this was seen in America before the erection of this sculpture. Connoisseurs noted the high technique of execution, the clarity of proportions and the gracefulness of lines. But opponents of those who recognized the Liberty Monument as the eighth wonder of the world noted that the symbol of Liberty in the form of a statue is interpreted too coldly and dispassionately. It is no coincidence that the epithet appeared that Freedom is “blind”, and greatness is transmitted only large sizes. However, evil tongues are not a hindrance to Freedom. Around the world, the Statue is considered the Symbol of the United States, embodying the democratic principles that this country is so proud of.Conclusion
History of the Statue of Liberty and the Islands she's worth it, -this is a story of change. statue wouldla placed on the grathread pedestal inside Fort Wood, built for the war 1812 , the walls of which are laid out in the shape of a star. The US Lighthouse Service was responsible for maintaining the statue until 1901. After 1901, this mission was assigned to the War Department. By presidential decree of October 15, 1924, Fort Wood (and the statue on its grounds) was declared a national monument, the boundaries of which coincided with those of the fort.October 28, 1936, on 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 maintenance of the national monument was transferred to the Service national parks. On September 7, 1937, the area of the national monument was enlarged to cover the entirety of Bedloe Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also handed over 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 drive to restore the Statue of Liberty. The restoration raised $87 million through a partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty Corporation - Ellis Island, which has become the most successful cooperation public and private sector in American history. In 1984, at the beginning of the work on its restoration, the Statue of Liberty was included in the List world heritage UNESCO. On July 5, 1986, the restored Statue of Liberty was re-opened to visitors during Liberty Weekend, dedicated to its centenary.
Highly a 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, what interesting facts are connected with the history of its appearance, 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 differs 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 joint work the best craftsmen 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 appropriate place where the Statue of Liberty will be located 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, charity gatherings, various entertainment events were held, the purpose of which was to attract as many as possible more sponsors. As a result, the goal was achieved 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 copy famous sculpture can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens in 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 which 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 the Ukraine special attention deserves the smallest statue of Liberty in the world, located in Uzhgorod. 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, which is visited every year great amount tourists.
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.
For those who come in search a better life Migrants Statue of Liberty was the first acquaintance with America. One of the largest sculptures in the history of mankind, it welcomed millions of people from all over the world who crossed the ocean in search of better opportunities. No monument in the United States is as strongly associated with America as the Statue of Liberty. Given by the people of France in 1886 as a sign of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, over time it has become an ideal of human freedom and independence, one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States.
The design of the Statue of Liberty is deeply symbolic. Cloaked in a robe female figure personifies the goddess of freedom, in her raised hand she holds a torch, in the other - a book (code of laws). The broken chains of tyranny, broken at the feet of Freedom, symbolize the end of the era of tyranny and oppression. The book in the left hand with the inscription July 4, 1776 (the day the US Declaration of Independence was adopted) reminds all those who arrived of the American ideal - "all men are created equal." Torch held high right hand symbolizes the illumination of the road to freedom and independence. The seven rays on the crown symbolize freedom, stretching across oceans and continents. The cap on the head is reminiscent of the headdress given to Roman slaves when they gained their freedom.
Statue of Liberty: the history of creation
The idea to present the United States with a monument in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the state and a sign of friendship between the United States and France, sealed during the War of Independence, first arose in the summer of 1865 at a gala dinner at the house of Edouard de Laboulay near Versailles. The French writer and publicist Edouard de Laboulet, as if by the way, expressed the opinion that "if a monument is erected in the United States, it will be natural if it is built by the joint efforts of our two peoples." The young sculptor Bartholdi, who was present at the dinner, liked the idea very much.
In November 1875, the Franco-American Union was formed to raise funds. The French must finance the creation of the sculpture, and the Americans must pay all the costs of building the pedestal. The future statue was given the name "Liberty Enlightening the World".
The fundraising campaign was active in France. To this end, the famous French composer Charles Gounod wrote a song, in the spring of 1878 they held a lottery, fortunately, French law allowed this to be done for charitable purposes. By July 1882, the necessary sum of $250,000 had been raised. All the money was received through charity, the French state did not allocate a single franc from the treasury.
In America, things were much more difficult. The American Committee for the Construction of the Pedestal, formed in January 1877, faced enormous difficulties. The international financial crisis in 1873 brought with it a period of prolonged economic stagnation that lasted for the better part of a decade. The required figure of $125,000 soon doubled, but the funds were practically non-existent. The press was indifferent to the project, and there were few who wanted to finance the construction of the New York Lighthouse. By the way, the Statue of Liberty was not the only project that experienced funding problems: the construction of the Washington Monument also stalled for many years.
A new fundraising company began in 1882. The committee organized a large number of propaganda events, in which the poet Emma Lazarus was invited to write poetry. Initially, she refused, citing the fact that she could not write poetry about the statue. Later, the sonnet “The New Colossus” written by the poetess raised $21,000 and won the first prize. Years later, a plaque with lines written by the poetess was installed at the main entrance to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
The owner and editor of the New York World, Joseph Pulitzer, took an active part in the fundraising campaign. Thanks to his campaign, the idea that the Statue of Liberty is a gift to all Americans, not just New Yorkers, gained general acceptance. In August 1883, all the necessary money for the construction was collected.
On August 5, 1884, during a solemn ceremony, the first stone was laid for the construction of a pedestal in the center of Fort Wood built in the early 19th century. On April 22, 1886, the pedestal was ready to receive generous gift from the people of France. It became the largest concrete structure in the world at that time.
How was the Statue of Liberty assembled?
To create a monument, light, and at the same time durable material was required to withstand a long cruise. The material must be water-resistant and easily endure the salty, humid climate of New York Harbor. The choice of the French sculptor fell on copper.
To create a monument, Bartholdi made a sketch model about 1.25 m high. From this model he reproduced a copy of the statue 2.85 m high. Using the same method, he made another model 11 m high. Then he divided the 11 meter statue into a large number of fragments and increased by four times.
When creating the Statue, copper sheets 2.57 mm thick were used. Carpenters made wooden molds, in which, with the help of a hammer, the sheets were given the desired configuration. More than 300 fragments of individual copper sheets formed the figure of the statue that we can see today. The inner frame of the Statue of Liberty was developed by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel, the author of the world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.
By the beginning of 1884, all parts of the Statue of Liberty were assembled together, and, like a real Colossus, it towered over the roofs of houses in Paris. Bartholdi devoted 15 years of his life to the monument, investing in it his talent as an outstanding sculptor. She became best job the author, thanks to which his name is forever inscribed in history.
Before shipment, all fragments of the statue were packed in 214 specially designed containers, weighing from several hundred kilograms to several tons each. On June 17, 1885, the ship delivered the monument to New York.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Statue of Liberty took place on October 28, 1886. First, a solemn parade was held on the streets of New York, which was watched by hundreds of thousands of citizens. Only invited dignitaries took part in the opening ceremony on the island itself. US President Grover Cleveland presided over the opening.
Black Tom Peninsula Terror Attack and Statue of Liberty
On July 30, 1916, German agents organized a diversion on the Black Tom peninsula, where a large ammunition depot was located. On the night of the attack, a total of about 1 kiloton of ammunition was stored here. The power of the explosion was estimated from 5.0 to 5.5 points on the Richter scale. Its effects were felt even by the inhabitants of the neighboring state of Maryland. The fragments of the explosion flew long distances, some of them hit the Statue of Liberty, and some, flying 2 km, damaged the building of the clock tower in Journal Square and stopped the clock.
As a result of the attack, the monument, especially the hand and the torch, was damaged. From that time to the present day, the torch has been closed to the public. It is interesting to note that the Lehigh Valley Railway Company tried to recover the damage caused from the state of Germany and still achieved its goal. In 1953, Germany agreed to pay the company $50 million (equivalent to about $452 million in 2010). The final calculation was carried out in 1979.
Reconstructions of the Statue of Liberty
December 2, 1916 President of the United States Woodrow Wilson turned on in a solemn ceremony new system lighting. The Statue of Liberty was illuminated by searchlights installed along the walls of Fort Wood. Architect Gutzon Borglum redesigned the damaged torch, replacing many of the copper fragments with textured glass.
A green coating began to cover the surface of the Statue of Liberty immediately after 1900. By 1906, the gleaming copper outer surface had completely oxidized and acquired an attractive light green patina, protecting the metal from the effects of wind and rain.
In 1882, after a thorough study of the condition of the Statue of Liberty, American and French specialists came to the conclusion that the monument needed serious restoration. The iron frame inside the monument was badly rusted, about 2% of the copper fragments needed to be replaced.
In 1984, the statue was closed for restoration. The torch, through which water penetrated inside the monument since 1916, was replaced with an exact copy of the architect Bartholdi. The entire internal frame and some fragments of the copper surface were also replaced. The pedestal and figure were illuminated by new metal halide lamps. On July 5, in the presence of Presidents Reagan and Mitterrand, the Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Liberty Island and the monument were immediately closed to the public. In 2004, the pedestal was reopened to the public, the crown became available for visits in 2009.
Statue of Liberty: practical information
The monument is open to the public daily, including weekends and holidays. Those who wish to visit the island of Liberty (the Statue of Liberty is installed on it) can purchase three ticket options to choose from:
1) Simple ticket - includes a ferry ride to Liberty Island. A simple ticket saves time: instead of waiting in a long line, it gives you first-priority boarding on the ferry. The ticket does not give the right to visit the pedestal, the museum located there, the observation deck and the crown.
2) A ticket with the right to enter the pedestal includes a trip to the island by ferry and additionally provides access to the pedestal, a visit to the museum, gives you the opportunity to see internal structure statues, climb to the observation deck of the pedestal, visit Fort Wood (the star-shaped structure on which the statue stands). This type of ticket does not include the right to access the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Tickets with the right to visit the pedestal must be ordered no later than two weeks before the scheduled visit. On very hot days, visiting the corona is prohibited.
3) A ticket with the right to visit the crown provides the opportunity to climb spiral staircase to the top of the Statue of Liberty. To climb the crown, you need to overcome 354 steps (corresponding to about 22 floors). Visitors ascend to the crown in groups of 10 under the guidance of a National Park Service officer, up to a maximum of 3 groups per hour. The number of such tickets is limited, they must be ordered three to four months in advance or even longer (up to one year). From here you have a magnificent view of the skyline of New York.
Every 30-45 minutes from 9 am to 3:30 pm, a ferry leaves for Liberty Island. Best time to visit early in the morning on weekdays to avoid crowds on weekends and holidays.
The waiting time in line for the ferry takes about 90 minutes. The wait is much longer during the peak travel season from June to September.
Having tickets in hand, it is advisable to arrive 30 minutes before the ferry departs, as the pre-boarding procedure delays passengers. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes.
According to the National Park Service, only 240 people per day are allowed access to the crown, 3,000 visitors per day to the pedestal, and 12,000 visitors per day to Liberty Island. Over three million people visit the Statue of Liberty every year.
By purchasing a simple ticket, visitors can visit not only Liberty Island, but also Ellis Island - the largest immigrant reception center in the United States, which received more than 12 million immigrants from the opening of the immigration service here in 1892 until the closure in 1954. Ancestors of more than 40 percent of the modern population The US went through Ellis Island immigration. Therefore, for Americans, Ellis Island is much more important than the alleged landing site of Christopher Columbus back in 1492. The former immigration building houses a museum dedicated to the history of US immigration. Here exhibits, photographs, eyewitness memories are collected, there is a library and two cinema halls. The Immigration Service Building is one of the largest historical museums in the United States.
In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Inside the pedestal are photographs, videos, stories about the construction of the Statue of Liberty, engravings, diagrams, historical details, a tablet with a poem written by Emma Lazarus "The New Colossus", an original 1886 torch. Having overcome 192 steps on the stairs, you find yourself on an observation deck overlooking the New York Harbor.
The Statue of Liberty is reflected on postage stamps, paintings and books. Her image is widely used in films, television programs, music, videos, computer games, on commemorative coins and in theatrical performances. Hundreds of copies of the monument are installed all over the world. To this day, the image of the Statue of Liberty continues to be the most popular international symbol of America.
View photos:The Statue of Liberty is located in the USA in New York City and is the symbol of the country. Few people know that the full name of the Statue of Liberty is "Liberty Enlightening the World." People are more accustomed to calling her simply "Statue of Liberty" or "Lady Liberty". This legendary statue is a gift from France in honor of the centenary of the American Revolution and is located on Liberty Island, a few kilometers southwest of Manhattan, in New York State. Bedloe Island was officially renamed Liberty Island by the lady with the torch in 1956, although the Americans began to call it that at the beginning of the 20th century.
Height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA is 93 meters along with a 47-meter pedestal. Lady Liberty stands on the wreckage of the chains. In her left hand she holds a tablet engraved in Roman numerals with a significant date for America - the day the US Declaration of Independence was signed - July 4, 1776, and in her right hand there is a torch that symbolizes the light that illuminates the path to freedom. To climb to the crown, visitors must climb 356 steps, where they can admire the wonderful panorama of New York, which they can admire directly from the main observation deck located in the crown. Here are 25 windows, which are considered to be symbols precious stones, and the 7 rays of the crown symbolize the seas and continents in accordance with the traditions of Western geography. Inside the Statue of Liberty itself is a museum dedicated to the history of the creation of the statue. It can be accessed by taking the elevator.
History of the Statue of Liberty in the USA.
The author of the project of the Statue of Liberty is the French sculptor and architect Frederic Bartholdi. The French engineer Alexandre Gustav Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel Tower, took part in the creation of the frame and reinforcing structures. However, both the French and the Americans worked on the construction of the entire monument. For example, the star-shaped plinth was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt.
Parts of the body of the future statue were cast in France, and the pedestal was created in the USA. Within 4 months, the statue was assembled together. Bartholdi was somewhat mistaken in his calculations: as it turned out, the materials allocated for the construction of the statue were categorically lacking, so all kinds of concerts, lotteries and charity evenings were organized, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the purchase of materials. Americans were extremely reluctant to part with their money, so the American journalist Joseph Pulitzer wrote several articles in his newspaper The World calling on the upper and middle classes of society to take part in the construction of a symbol of US independence. His words contained such sharp criticism that it had an effect, and funds began to flow from all over the country. By joint efforts, by the end of the summer of 1885, the entire amount was finally collected. By that time, the French had just completed their half of the work, and the finished parts of the statue were delivered to America on the frigate Isère in July 1885. The valuable cargo occupied more than 200 boxes and consisted of 350 body parts of Lady Liberty.
Grand opening of the statue took place on October 28, 1886 with the participation of US President Grover Cleveland. An interesting fact is that only men were present at the opening ceremony, despite the fact that the statue was a symbol of democracy. As an exception, only a few women were allowed on the island, among whom was Bartholdi's wife.
Since 1924 statue of liberty in usa belongs to the national monuments, and the island itself gained the title national park USA. In 1984, the Statue of Liberty and the entire island were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.
Currently, the monument is illuminated by laser illumination, the statue has been repeatedly restored, acquiring new elements, but in general, the original appearance has been preserved.
To get to Lady Liberty every year, more than 5 million tourists take a short trip by ferry. Entrance to the monument itself is free, but you will have to pay for the ferry. For many years The Statue of Liberty in the United States remains a symbol of the country's independence and calling card New York.
