During the Revolutionary War, France and the United States became strong allies because they both wanted to break free from Great Britain. France gave the U.S. a special gift called the “Statue of Liberty” as a symbol of their friendship. The statue was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and arrived in New York Harbor in 1885.
It was assembled on a special base built by the U.S. government. The Statue of Liberty has since become a famous symbol of freedom and democracy.
The statue is located on Liberty Island, previously known as Bedloe’s Island, and it welcomed over 12 million immigrants from 1892 to 1943. Immigrants arrived by boat at the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Station and saw the statue as a symbol of hope.
The statue’s base has words written by poet Emma Lazarus that represent the dreams of immigrants seeking freedom in America. Lady Liberty, depicted as the Roman goddess Libertas, proudly holds a torch and a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence.
The statue was constructed in France using copper sheets and steel supports. Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, created the inner framework of the statue, allowing it to sway with the wind and adapt to temperature changes. Visitors can climb stairs inside the statue to reach the crown and enjoy the view.
Although the statue’s copper is thin, it is very strong. The copper used in the statue could make around 30 million pennies! Over time, the copper’s original brown color changed to a green hue due to a natural process called oxidation. This green patina actually protects the copper from further damage.
