The Statue of Liberty is the ultimate symbol of New York City and the entire United States. This neoclassical masterpiece, known around the world as the Statue of Liberty, is made of copper and depicts a woman standing on a massive pedestal. In her right hand, she raises a torch high above her head, while her left hand holds a tablet inscribed in Roman numerals with the date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence — JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776).
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, originally intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence. However, due to political instability in France and funding delays, the gift arrived ten years later than planned. The monument was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886, becoming an enduring symbol of freedom, democracy, and the close friendship between the two nations.
The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor on Liberty Island, right at the boundary between New York and New Jersey. Before the monument was installed, the island was home to Fort Wood, a military fort used by American forces during the Revolutionary War.
When the Statue of Liberty was erected, the fort was filled with concrete and now forms the base of the pedestal. This detail carries a powerful symbolic meaning: the monument quite literally stands on a foundation won through the struggle for freedom.
The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, while its innovative internal iron framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel, who would later become world-famous for designing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The internal structure allows the copper exterior to expand and contract with changes in temperature while remaining securely supported.
For millions of immigrants arriving by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Statue of Liberty was the very first sight of America. Passing the monument on their way to nearby Ellis Island, they saw it as a powerful symbol of hope and the promise of a new life. Today, more than a century later, the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most recognizable monuments in the world and one of the strongest symbols of freedom ever created.
UNLOCK THE CITY WITH OUR QUESTS
Our city quests will guide you through both its most famous landmarks and hidden paths away from them! By choosing a quest, you turn from a tourist into a participant in an exciting thriller! Turn your walk into a real adventure!
Statue of Liberty
Landmark location on the map
Other landmarks in New York City
Don’t stop here! There are other city landmarks just step away — explore them as well
