Today tour consultant Luke Chow is highlighting a favorite American landmark that is celebrating a very special anniversary today!
Situated in New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty is one of the main attractions for anyone visiting New York City with approximately 4 million visitors each year. And today it reaches a very special milestone: it was officially dedicated 125 years ago today!
The history of the statue goes back to its inception in 1865 when Édouard René de Laboulaye, a Frenchman and ardent supporter of the Union, stated that “If a monument should rise in the United States, as a memorial to their independence, I should think it only natural if it were built in a united effort—a common work of both our nations.”
The actual construction of the statue did not begin until 1875 and was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi a young French sculptor. He decided that his sculpture would need to embody liberty and decided on woman in ancient Greek attire because Greece was the birthplace of democracy.
Beyond her Greek inspiration, the statue is steeped in symbolism. The crown she wears stands for the seven continents and seven seas. The date on her tablet is July 4, 1776 which is the date of the Declaration of Independence and the torch represents liberty enlightening the world. What some people miss are the broken chains at the feet of the statue which stands for the broken shackles of tyranny.
The statue, whose actual name is Liberty Enlightening the World, was built in France, disassembled and shipped to the United States. The statue arrived in June of 1885 and was assembled in four months, but the dedication ceremony didn't occur untill October 28, 1886 in front of four thousand spectators.
Today tourists can do a variety of things when visiting the Statue of Liberty. There is no entrance fee for the Statue of Liberty but you are required to purchase a ferry ticket to visit the island. Advanced reservations are limited and required to access any part of the monument, but please note that beginning tomorrow, the Statue of Liberty will be closed for year-long renovations.
When inside the Statue of Liberty there are a few highlights that cannot be missed. First is the Statue of Liberty Exhibit, which opened in July 1986. The exhibit traces the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty through museum objects, photographs, prints, videos and oral histories. In addition to historical artifacts and descriptive text, full scale replicas of the Statue's face and foot are also on display.
Next, be sure to check out the Torch Exhibit. You’ll see the original 1886 torch and much altered flame in the lobby. On the second floor balcony overlooking this torch is a display on the history of the torch and flame, explaining the various alterations through diagrams, photographs, drawings and cartoons.
Another thing to see if you are going inside is the New Colossus. This is a famous sonnet written by Emma Lazarus and it appears on the pedestal of the statue. Read the poem here. A bronze plaque, dedicated in memory of Emma Lazarus' contribution to the completion of the statue's pedestal, has been affixed to the inner walls of the pedestal since the early 1900's. This plaque currently located in the Statue of Liberty exhibit and has come to symbolize the statue's universal message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world.
There is a lot of history behind one of America’s most recognizable landmarks. That is why we make sure that nearly all of our New York travelers get a chance to at least walk the grounds of Liberty Island. When I think of New York City the first image that pops into my head is the Statue of Liberty. I will leave you with this link to some fun facts about the statue: Statue of Liberty Fun Facts.
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