Statue of Liberty in New York (New York, USA) – description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
Perhaps, not only a native American, but also any inhabitant of our planet, when asked what is the symbol of the United States, will answer without hesitation: the Statue of Liberty. It is no coincidence that we see this monument more often than others in American cinema, it is no coincidence that, being tourists, we buy up copies of the Statue of Liberty in souvenir shops and take home exactly copies of the Statue of Liberty. See itypetravel for geostatistics of Connecticut.
Emphasizing the greatness of the monument, the Statue of Liberty is often compared with the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient Greek statue that has not survived to this day. The poetess Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet “The New Colossus” on the day of the opening of the Statue of Liberty. Since 1903, a special tablet with the lines of this work has adorned the pedestal of the monument.
By the way, not everyone knows that the full name of the Statue of Liberty sounds like “Liberty Enlightening the World”. The 46-meter (93-meter with a pedestal) statue of Liberty, proudly towering on the island of the same name, is a gift presented by the United States on behalf of the French people, who once supported the Americans in the struggle for independence. The idea of creating the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of independence and democracy was born in 1865 and belongs to the famous French scientist and lawyer Edouard Rene Lefebvre de Laboulaye. The concept of the monument was developed by the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
The original layout of the Statue of Liberty was made by Bartholdi in 1870, today this first copy of the legendary monument can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Place for the Statue of Liberty or an interesting fact
In which corner of American soil the monument would rise, Bartholdi chose. In his opinion, it was simply impossible to find places more ideal than Bedloe Island, located 3 km southwest of the southern border of Manhattan. However, historians lift the curtain and reveal some secrets to us.
It turns out that Bartholdi perfectly represented his giant sculpture not only on an island near New York, but also in Port Said, located in the Suez Canal, connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas. The project ” Egypt bringing light to Asia” was not destined to come true, however, Bartholdi’s works were not in vain, the sculptor successfully translated his idea into reality in the United States, moreover, Lessens, the builder of the Suez Canal, was put at the head of the committee to create the Statue of Liberty in the United States.
A bit of history
The project for erecting a monument on Bedloe Island was approved by the US Congress only in 1877, and this despite the fact that, according to the French plan, an unusual present was to be ready by the hundredth anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, that is, by July 4, 1876. However, the fundraising was delayed, and by this time only a copper hand with a torch was ready, which, until the completion of work on the statue, was sheltered in New York at Madison Square. By July 1878, Lady Liberty’s head was ready. At the same time, the head was presented at an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris.
It is worth noting that funds for the erection of the monument were collected in all possible ways: balls, sports competitions, exhibitions and lotteries were organized. The eloquent Pulitzer, publisher of the New-York World newspaper, provided significant assistance in financing the construction of the monument.
The first presentation of the finished Statue of Liberty took place on July 4, 1884 in France, after which the monument was dismantled and sent to the USA. The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York on July 17, 1885. The assembly of the monument lasted about 4 months. However, the official opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York by US President Grover Cleveland took place only on October 28, 1886. Only men attended the opening ceremony. And despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of democracy. As an exception, only Lessens’ eight-year-old daughter and Bartholdi’s wife were allowed on the island that day.
By the way, Bedloe Island was officially renamed Liberty Island only in 1956, although Bartholdi suggested doing this back in the 19th century, 80 years before the event.
Statue of Liberty inside and out
The Statue of Liberty is a steel frame with a total weight of 125 tons. Gustav Eiffel was invited to design and build the steel structure, and Maurice Koechlin continued his work. The frame is constructed in such a way that inside the monument you can safely move around and even climb the spiral staircases. There are 354 steps to the main observation deck located in the crown. From there, from 25 windows symbolizing precious stones, an amazing view of New York Harbor opens up. By the way, the seven rays of the crown symbolize the seven seas and seven continents, as is commonly believed in the West.
From above, the steel skeleton is covered with copper sheets expertly minted in wooden molds with a thickness of only 2.37 mm and a total weight of 31 tons. The copper plates spliced together form the silhouette of the statue. By the way, copper was supplied to France from Russia. It is worth noting that one leg of the statue stands on broken fetters – this is how Bartholdi symbolically showed gaining freedom. On the plate in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty is the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776: JULY IV MDCCLXXVI.
The monument’s plinth was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt. Work on its construction began in the summer of 1885 and completed in April 1886. The cement base of the Statue of Liberty weighs 27,000 tons. To get to the top of the pedestal, you need to overcome 192 steps. Inside the pedestal is a museum, which can be reached by elevator.
In 1924, the Statue of Liberty was listed as a national monument, in the 30s of the 20th century the entire island of Bedloe (Liberty) passed into the status of a national park. In 1984, the UN declared Liberty Island and the legendary monument located on it a monument of world importance.
The Statue of Liberty has been repeatedly restored, new lighting elements have been added. Currently, the monument is equipped with laser illumination.
Who is “Lady Liberty”?
Who was the model of Bartholdi, whose face illuminates the world? Whom did the great sculptor imprint for all eternity in the form of the Roman Goddess Libertas? Surely, these questions are asked by the Americans themselves, and guests from all over the world.
There are two opinions on this. Someone believes that Bartholdi captured in his work the face of the Frenchwoman Isabella Boyer, the widow of Isaac Singer. Others are of the opinion that the Statue of Liberty inherited the image of the sculptor’s mother, Charlotte. Which opinion is true is still a mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved.
How to get there
Every year, the Statue of Liberty is visited by over 4 million tourists from all over the world. Entrance to the National Park of the island is free, however, to get to it you will have to spend money on a ferry, as well as go through a thorough inspection at the piers.
Ferries depart from New York. You can go on a trip to the Statue of Liberty from the Battery Park pier, which is located in Manhattan, or from Liberty State Park, which is located in Jersey City. Entrance to the statue is free, adults will have to pay 24 USD for the ferry . Prices on the page are for July 2021.
Times Square
Times Square (USA) – description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
It’s hard to visit New York and not see one of its symbols – the world-famous Times Square. It is located in the heart of Manhattan, at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue between 42nd and 47th streets.
The square got its name in honor of the famous New York Times newspaper, whose office was built here at the beginning of the 20th century.
This place has always been the focus of life, social movements and phenomena, a reflection of the mood of New Yorkers. Now it is a huge colorful center with a developed infrastructure, illuminated around the clock by flashes of storefronts and giant screens.
