04/24/2025
‼️💢The History Of The Statue Of Liberty💢‼️
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
These words from Emma Lazarus’s famous 1883 sonnet can be found at the plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty is one of the United States’ most prominent attractions, standing as a symbol of freedom and democracy. She draws in an astonishing 3.5 million visitors per year, and we can understand why! Want to learn more about the statue and its significance? You’re at the right place then, keep reading.
Who Designed It
The New York City skyline would not be complete without the iconic Statue of Liberty elevated along the horizon, welcoming the masses of people who travel throughout the city. Do you ever wonder how it got there and whose genius was behind its creation?
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi was the man that made it happen. Bartholdi was a famous French sculptor, most known for his work on the Statue of Liberty. He was elected by Edouard de Laboulaye was the sculptor to build a monument that could commemorate the kinship between France and the United States as well as the appreciation for President Abraham Lincoln’s work.
Bartholdi previously worked with Laboulaye in the designing of his bust and was excited to work on the project that came to life over a few years. Thus, the Statue of Liberty was born.
Fun Fact! Gustave Eiffel put his two cents into the design of the Statue of Liberty as well! He was asked to consult in a small capacity regarding the engineering this iconic structure given his experience in Paris.
Statue Of Liberty Facts
The Statue of Liberty has some impressive numbers. Here are some cool numbers about this amazing statue:
Amount of copper used: 62,000 lbs. ( 31 tons)
Weight of concrete foundation: 54,000,000 lbs. (125 tons)
The thickness of copper sheeting: 3/32 of an inch, the thickness of two pennies placed together
Wind sway: 50 mph winds cause the statue to sway up to 3 inches and the torch up to 6 inches
Direction: It is facing southeast so people could see the Statue while entering the harbor
The tablet: It reads the date of July 4th, 1776, which is the date that America declared independence from Great Britain
The torch: Is a 1986 replacement. It is copper, covered in 24K gold leaf.
Height of the Statue of Liberty: 154 feet
