The Statue of Liberty

Who designed the Statue of Liberty?

What was the purpose of gifting the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886?

How tall is the Statue of Liberty, including its pedestal?

What material is the Statue of Liberty primarily made of?

Who is depicted by the Statue of Liberty?

What does the tablet held by the Statue of Liberty bear?

What inspired the design of the Statue of Liberty?

When was the most recent renovation of the Statue of Liberty completed?

What was added to the Statue of Liberty during the 1986 renovation?

Who maintains the Statue of Liberty today?

The Statue of Liberty, also known as Liberty Enlightening the World, is a colossal statue located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The statue, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, ( 1)............. The statue stands 151 feet tall, including its pedestal, and is made of copper. It depicts a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who holds a torch above her head with her right hand and a tablet bearing the inscription of the date of the American Declaration of Independence in her left arm. The statue's copper skin is a striking green color, the result of a natural patina caused by exposure to the elements. The statue is one of the most recognizable symbols of freedom and democracy in the world and (2) ........................ The idea for the statue came from Edouard de Laboulaye, a French abolitionist and prominent supporter of the Union during the American Civil War. He proposed the idea of a statue as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries and (3) .................. Bartholdi was tasked with designing the statue, and he spent several years working on the project. He modeled the statue's face on that of his mother and used the Roman goddess Libertas as inspiration for the statue's overall design. The statue was then shipped to the United States in crates and assembled on Liberty Island in 1886. The statue was initially met with mixed reactions from the American public. Some saw it as a symbol of freedom and democracy, while others criticized it as a symbol of oppression and imperialism. (4) ......................., the statue quickly became a popular tourist destination and a symbol of hope and freedom for millions of immigrants who passed by it as they entered the United States through New York Harbor. The statue has undergone several renovations in the past century, (5) ................... The renovation included the replacement of the torch and the addition of an elevator to the crown, making it possible for visitors to climb to the top of the statue. Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most visited (6) .................., with millions of visitors each year. It is a National Monument and is maintained by the National Park Service. Visitors can take a ferry to Liberty Island to see the statue up close and even climb to the crown for a stunning view of New York City and the harbor.