DK Travel : New York : Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

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The figure presiding over New York harbor, officially titled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” has been a harbinger of freedom for millions since her inauguration by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. The statue, a gift of friendship from the French to mark the U.S.’s 100th birthday in 1876, was designed by the French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who devoted 21 years to the project. Slow fundraising on both sides of the Atlantic delayed the unveiling by 10 years, but no problem was encountered financing the $100 million restoration for the statue’s 100th birthday. Her unveiling on July 3, 1986, was the occasion for the largest fireworks display ever seen in the U.S.
To reserve a pass to visit the statue’s base, contact: 1-866-STATUE 4, or visit www.statuereservations.com

Top 10 Features

1. Castle Clinton National Monument

Built as a fort in 1807, it is now a visitor center for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island visitors. The building exhibits panoramas of New York history.
2. Battery Park

With statues and monuments honoring everyone from New York’s first Jewish immigrants to the U.S. Coast Guard, the park is also a great spot for sea-gazing.
3. Boat Ride

3. Boat Ride

The views from the ferries that carry a constant stream of visitors from Manhattan and Jersey City to the Statue of Liberty and on to Ellis Island are dramatic.
4. Close-up View of the Statue

A close-up view reveals the awesome size of the Statue of Liberty. Dominating New York harbor, she stands 305 ft (93 m) tall and weighs 225 tons. Her right arm carrying the symbolic torch is 42 ft (13 m) long while her index finger measures 8 ft (2.4 m) and dwarfs most men.
5. Pedestal

Richard Morris Hunt, one of America’s most prestigious architects, was chosen to design the 89-ft (27-m) pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The pedestal sits on a concrete foundation within the 11-pointed, star-shaped walls of Fort Wood, a fortress erected for the War of 1812.
6. Crown

Legend says that Bartholdi’s mother was the model for Liberty, but the face was actually based on his early drawings for a never-commissioned statue in Egypt. The seven rays of her crown represent the seven seas and seven continents.
7. Torch and Book

The new torch, with its 24-carat gold leaf-coated flame, was added during a 1984–86 restoration. The original is on display in the main lobby. The book in the statue’s left hand is inscribed July 4, 1776, in Latin.
8. Frame

Gustave Eiffel, best known for his Paris tower, created the inner framework. The copper sheeting shell, weighing 31 tons, is hung on iron bars from a massive central iron pylon that anchors the statue to the base.
9. Views

9. Views

The lofty observation decks in the pedestal and crown of the Liberty Statue, which offered spectacular views of Manhattan, are now closed because of security concerns since the events of September 11, 2001.
10. Historical Exhibits

The museum inside the base documents the complete history of the Statue of Liberty using photos, prints, videos, oral histories, and full-scale replicas of the face and foot. A pass is required to visit the base and observation platform.

Practical Information

Crowds can be heavy, so an early departure is advised. A cafeteria is available on site. For the best photos, sit on the right of the boat going out, the left coming back. Take the 1 or 9 train to South Ferry, 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, or the R or W train to Whitehall Street to get to Battery Park by subway. Ferries leave from Castle Clinton, Battery Park, every 30–45 minutes between 8:30am– 3:30pm daily. www.nps.gov/stli