Little Statue of Liberty. History of the Statue of Liberty. Weight and height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA

Hello readers of our portal! With this next article, we will try to return to the description of the most interesting and juicy places on our planet after a long break. The choice of an object for the next review did not stand for a long time - the disassembled list of 8 wonders of the world stood for too long without its candidate. Today in the review - the Statue of Liberty in the USA. The symbol in the monument to democracy and freedom of all the United States of America.

Statue of Liberty (on English language Statue of Liberty), she is also "Liberty Enlightening the World" or "Lady Liberty" - a symbol of freedom and democracy in the United States, giant colossus statue made in neoclassical style. The statue is located on Liberty Island, located 3 kilometers southwest of Manhattan Island. The special value of the statue was recognized by the world community - in 1984 it was included in the List world heritage UNESCO. We could not pass by such an object of human heritage.

Description of the statue

The giant Statue of Liberty stands on a pedestal. She holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. The inscription on the tablet shows the date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States (Roman numerals - JULY IV MDCCLXXVI, July 4, 1776 in our manner). One naga steps on broken chains.

Tablet of the Statue of Liberty

To climb to the top of the statue in her crown, you need to go through 356 steps. You can shorten this excursion by climbing only to the pedestal - 192 steps. In addition to the spiral staircase inside the structure, the visitor can also use the elevator.

View inside

On the head of the statue is a crown. Its 25 windows symbolize "earthly gems and celestial rays illuminating the world ”- which sources are not named, but it sounds at least funny. But with the rays of the crown, everything is already simpler - there are 7 of them, and they, in turn, symbolize the seven seas and continents. It is worth noting that in Western world 7 continents are considered to be. They came up with this symbolism before or after the creation of the statue is not called, but the general idea for the crown is a bit strange.

The total height of the statue is 93 meters, the net height of the statue without the pedestal is 46 meters. The manufacturing process used 31 tons of copper, 125 tons of steel and 27,000 tons of pedestal concrete.

Thin sheets of copper 2.57 mm thick were minted in wooden moulds. They were used to create the very figure of the statue. To fasten the entire structure inside the statue, a steel frame is provided, extending into concrete.

Now from the high point statue available to tourists – the crown, opens great view to New York Harbor. The pedestal houses a museum of history, and Liberty Island itself (Liberty Island, or until 1956 Bedloe Island) is also recognized as a national monument.

View from the crown

Statue of Liberty in harsh numbers

A little history of the statue: the beginning

The history of the Statue of Liberty begins with known fact- The statue is a gift from France to the United States in honor of the centenary of American independence. And here's how it all went from the emergence of the idea to the position modern days- read below.

The idea of ​​creating a statue belongs to the French thinker, writer and politician Edouard Rene Lefevre. Being the president of the anti-slavery society in France, he was very impressed with the victory in civil war fighters against the slave system in the USA. According to the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Lefebvre had this idea in 1865.

The existing policy of Napoleon III did not allow to proceed with such a project. Therefore, progress resumed only in the late 1860s. The sculptor Bartholdi had ideas to create a majestic colossus before. Initially, the project was proposed for Egypt, but the budgets did not pull the transportation and installation of the statue. The 100th Anniversary of Independence in the United States was another great opportunity to create a high-level project.

The project has taken off. According to the agreement, France was to create the sculpture itself, and the United States - the pedestal. Bartholdi acted as a sculptor. But to create such a massive structure, the help of a great engineer was required - Gustave Eiffel, the future creator of the legendary Eiffel Tower, was invited to take his place.

From first impressions to opening

The work in Bartholdi's workshop was in full swing. Already in May 1876, at the World Exhibition in Philadelphia, they showed right hand future statue with a torch. For a visit to this impressive structure, they took 50 cents (not bad money at that time). The hand itself made a huge impression on the visitors of the exhibition. In order not to lead the hand back to France after the exhibition, it was placed in New York's Madison Square Garden.

At the World Exhibition of 1876

But the process of creating the statue was not without problems - there was not enough money. To solve this problem, charitable donations, entertainment events, lotteries, theatrical performances, exhibitions, auctions, boxing fights were held.

Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the World newspaper, played a special role in raising funds. A man who has made a career from a newspaper peddler, a journalist of small notes to the owner of a publishing house - should he not understand the current thoughts of the people. Campaigns to raise funds for a new material embodiment of the American idea and dream did not last long - after 5 months of work, the funds were collected. The contribution of this man is difficult to overestimate, the Pulitzer Prize is still one of the most prestigious awards among journalists.

Workshop work

While the statue was being made, by an act of Congress in 1877, General William Sherman approved the site of the future statue - Bedloe Island. The process of choosing a place was not without the recommendations of the sculptor. The place was not chosen by chance - at the mouth of the Hudson, near Ellis Island, the place where all newly arrived future US citizens arrived, the place where their initial registration was made.

The construction of the pedestal began on August 5, 1885 - on this day the first stone was laid here. The project architect is Richard Morris. Less than a year later - April 22, 1886 - the pedestal was already finished. Additionally, 2 lintels of steel beams were built into the masonry, which are connected by anchor beams extending upwards as part of the steel frame of the statue. Thus, the pedestal and the statue are one whole, an integral massive strong structure.

The Statue of Liberty was completed back in 1884, and on June 17, 1885, it was delivered to New York Harbor. For transportation, it was previously disassembled into 350 parts and packed in 214 boxes. Note that the assembly process itself took another 4 months. Here he is a real designer for great people.

The grand opening of the statue took place on October 28, 1886. The opening was delayed from the idea for 10 years. US President Grover Cleveland also took part in this ceremony, who here uttered the phrase that went down in history:

“We will always remember that Freedom has chosen this place as its home, and oblivion will never cover its altar”

After opening

Previously, Fort Wood was built at the location of the statue (it was built for the war of 1812, of course, not with Napoleon), which has the shape of a five-pointed star. In the center of it, on a pedestal, a statue was installed. On October 15, 1924, Fort Wood and the statue were declared a national monument. And later, the entire island fell under the square of the national monument.

Slums of early Fort Wood

Even later, the neighboring Ellis Island was also included here, on which at first the immigration center was located, where all newcomers to the country were registered.

View from the ship upon arrival in New York

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan is going to restore a slightly tired monument. The event is raising $87 million. Immediately at the beginning of the restoration in 1984, the statue is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 5, 1986, it again became open to visitors.

Statue Restoration

Back in 1916, the stairs to the torch were closed for safety reasons. During the restoration of 1986, the torch was replaced with a new one, covered with 24 carat gold. The old torch was placed at the pedestal. But still, the access to the crown remains the maximum accessible point for the visitor.

old torch

Everyone remembers September 11, 2001 - the day the terrorists attacked the World shopping mall. The statue and the island were immediately closed to visitors, it was impossible to risk visitors - after all, this is a symbol of all America. Since then, access to the statue has become more difficult. It was possible to get to the island from the end of 2001, to the pedestal only from August 4, 2004. On July 4, 2009, President Barack Obama opened access to the statue, but with restrictions on the number of visitors per day.

The next installation of new elevators and stairs took place from October 29, 2011 to October 28, 2012. Currently, full access is resumed up to the crown.

(Statue of Liberty, full name - Freedom, illuminating the world) - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called "a symbol of New York and the USA", "a symbol of freedom and democracy", "Lady Liberty". This is a gift from French citizens for the centenary of the American Revolution.

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, about 3 km southwest of the southern tip of Manhattan, one of the boroughs of New York. Until 1956, the island was called "Bedloe's Island", although it has been popularly called "Liberty Island" since the beginning of the 20th century.

The goddess of freedom holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. The inscription on the tablet reads "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" ("July 4, 1776"), the date the Declaration of Independence was signed. With one foot, "Freedom" stands on broken chains.

Visitors walk 354 steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown, which symbolize earthly gems and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The seven rays on the crown of the statue symbolize the seven seas and seven continents (the western geographical tradition has exactly seven continents).

The total weight of the copper used to cast the statue is 31 tons, while the total weight of its steel structure is 125 tons. The total weight of the cement base is 27,000 tons. The thickness of the copper coating of the statue is 2.37 mm.

The height from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.

The statue was built from thin sheets of copper minted in wooden moulds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.

Usually the statue is open to visitors, usually arriving by ferry. The crown, which can be reached by stairs, offers extensive views of New York Harbor. The museum, located in the pedestal (and accessible by elevator), houses an exhibition of the statue's history.

New Colossus

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote The New Colossus, a sonnet dedicated to the Statue of Liberty. 20 years later, in 1903, it was engraved on a bronze plate and affixed to the wall in the museum, located on the pedestal of the statue. The famous last lines of "Freedom" in the Russian translation of V. Lazarus sound like this:

“To you, ancient lands,” she cries, silent
Lips not parted - to live in empty luxury,
And give me from the bottomless depths
Your outcasts, your downtrodden people,
Send me the outcasts, the homeless,
I’ll light a golden candle for them at the door!”

Creation of the Statue of Liberty

The creation of the statue was entrusted to the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Issac Singer, a creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines. “She was freed from the awkward presence of her husband, who left her with only the most desirable attributes in society: a fortune and children. From the very beginning of her career in Paris, she was a public figure. As the beautiful French widow of an American entrepreneur, she proved to be a suitable model for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty."

By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal, and France was to create a statue and install it in the United States. However, the lack of money was felt on both sides Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions, and boxing fights were held to raise funds.

Meanwhile, in France, Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to resolve structural issues related to the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (future creator eiffel tower) was commissioned to design a massive steel support and an intermediate support frame that would allow the statue's copper shell to move freely while maintaining an upright position. Eiffel handed over the detailed designs to his assistant, an experienced structural engineer, Maurice Koechlin. Interestingly, the copper for the statue is of Russian origin.

The site for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by an Act of Congress in 1877, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdy himself, on Bedloe Island, where a star-shaped fort had stood since the beginning of the 19th century.

Fundraising for the pedestal progressed slowly, and Joseph Pulitzer (of Pulitzer Prize fame) issued an appeal in his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project's fund.

By August 1885, funding for the pedestal, designed by the American architect Richard Morris Hunt, was completed, with the first stone laid on 5 August. Construction was completed on April 22, 1886. Built into the massive stonework of the pedestal are two square lintels of steel bars; they are connected by steel anchor beams that go up to become part of the Eiffel frame of the statue itself. Thus the statue and the pedestal are one.

The statue was completed by the French in July 1884 and delivered to New York Harbor on June 17, 1885 aboard the French frigate Ysere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 parts and packed in 214 boxes. (Her right arm, holding a torch, had already been on display at the Philadelphia World's Fair in 1876 and then at Madison Square in New York.) The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The grand opening of the Statue of Liberty, which was addressed by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators. As a French gift for the centenary of the American Revolution, it was ten years too late.

Statue like a lighthouse

From the day of its discovery, the statue served as a navigational landmark and was used as a lighthouse. Three caretakers took turns keeping the fire in her torch for 16 years.

Statue as a cultural monument

History of the Statue of Liberty and the island on which it stands is a story of change. The statue was placed on a granite pedestal inside Fort Wood, built for the War of 1812, whose walls are laid out in the shape of a star. The US Lighthouse Service was responsible for maintaining the statue until 1901. After 1901, this mission was assigned to the War Department. By presidential decree of October 15, 1924, Fort Wood (and the statue on its grounds) was declared a national monument, the boundaries of which coincided with those of the fort.

On October 28, 1936, on the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of the statue, US President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Liberty and peace are living things. For them to continue to exist, each generation must guard and invest in them. new life.»

In 1933, the maintenance of the national monument was transferred to the Service national parks. On September 7, 1937, the area of ​​the national monument was enlarged to cover the entirety of Bedloe Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also turned over to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Memorial. In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan commissioned Lee Iacocca to lead a private sector drive to restore the Statue of Liberty. The restoration raised $87 million through a partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Corporation, the most successful public-private partnership in the world. American history. In 1984, at the start of restoration work, the Statue of Liberty was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 5, 1986, the restored Statue of Liberty was re-opened to the public during the Liberty Weekend dedicated to its centenary.

Statue and security

The statue and the island were closed from September 11, 2001 to August 3, 2004 due to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. On August 4, 2004, the monument was opened, but the statue itself, including the crown, remains closed. However, in May 2009, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the statue would be reopened for tours effective July 4, 2009.

Articles from Wikipedia- free encyclopedia.

Where is the most famous symbol of the New World

The full name of the Statue of Liberty is "Liberty Enlightening the World", that is, "Freedom, Illuminating the World." This is the absolute champion among all the symbols of the United States and American continent by mention and significance for pop culture. It was she who became the first and most significant object that hundreds of thousands of immigrants saw when sailing into the bay of New York. Therefore, "Freedom" for Americans is associated immediately in big amount symbols: this is both a new life and a rejection of everything old, and at the same time something so blatantly neoclassical and European right in the center of the metropolis.

The exact location of the Statue of Liberty

The monument is located in North America, on the coast of the Atlantic largest city USA, New York.

More precise location: Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson River at 40.68 degrees North and 74.04 degrees West.

The place where the statue stands is picturesque and looks picturesque from many angles: lonely and relatively small island in the middle of a gulf with a strong current, surrounded by sparkling skyscrapers. All this in the heart of New York next to Manhattan.

Statue of Liberty as a tourist attraction

The history of the emergence of the Statue of Liberty is the history of the realization of the American pathos of the young Republican people. It is symbolic that the sculpture symbolizes not only abstract freedom, but also its universality and universality. Its creators were inspired by the spirit of the European Enlightenment and faith in the power of industry and progress in the 19th century. Therefore, it is not surprising that the co-author of its creator, Frederic Bartholdi, was the same Gustave Eiffel, who designed famous tower in Paris. At the same time, copper for coating, apparently, was taken from the Ural deposits, so the project turned out to be truly international and global.

The construction required incredible forces, since at that time the technical capabilities were much less. That is why it took a detailed study of the steel frame by Eiffel. A copper shell, created by the sculptor Bartholdi, is already attached to the frame. Delivery and installation in themselves proved to be a titanic task and required a lot of effort from both countries, France and the United States. Even the creation of a massive concrete pedestal on a small island took a long time and was associated with difficulties.

The Statue of Liberty was presented by the French government to the American people in 1876 on the centenary of the American Revolution. The whole design is filled with symbolism: seven rays symbolize the number of continents, the torch is designed to illuminate the world, spreading the light of freedom, while in the left hand there is an image of the US constitution, as the guarantor of these freedoms. What Liberty looks like as an ancient Greek goddess is also an attempt to create continuity in symbols European history and instill the neoclassical tradition in the New World.

With a total weight of 183 tons and a height of 93 meters, the Statue of Liberty seems to be a large object even against the backdrop of skyscrapers, in the 19th century it was simply amazing and instilled faith in the achievements of technology and industry.

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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.

Emphasizing the greatness of the monument, the Statue of Liberty is often compared with the Colossus of Rhodes, 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, places perfect island Bedloe, located 3 km southwest of the southern border of Manhattan, was simply impossible to find. 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 sea. 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 100th 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 by 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 United States. The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York on July 17, 1885. The assembly of the monument lasted about 4 months. However official opening 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 spiral staircases up. to the main observation deck located in the crown, 354 steps. From there, from 25 windows, symbolizing precious stones, opens amazing view to New York Harbor. 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 masterfully 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 shackles - this is how Bartholdi symbolically showed gaining freedom. The plaque in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty bears 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 added to national monuments, in the 30s of the 20th century the entire island of Bedloe (Freedom) passed into the status 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? Who has been depicted by the great sculptor in the image of the Roman Goddess Libertas forever and ever? 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 national park 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 Battery Park Pier in Manhattan, or from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Entrance to the statue is free, for the ferry you will have to pay adults 25 USD, children 4-12 years old - 15 USD. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States by the government of France in honor of the centenary of the American Declaration of Independence. The giant figure was called "Liberty Illuminating the World" and was created for 10 years in the art studio of the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel Tower, designed the internal steel frame for it. It was planned to present this gift on July 4, 1876, but due to lack of funds, which were to be replenished by voluntary donations, the celebration had to be postponed.

Practical Americans did not understand what kind of romantic utopias they had to part with their labor income for.

Bartholdi was forced to send to the states a fragment of a statue 15 meters high - the right hand and a torch, which he installed in Philadelphia at the exhibition of the century. For climbing into the torch itself, they took 50 cents (decent money in those days). Then the hand with the torch was transported to New York and installed in Madison Square Garden. Yet the money was clearly not enough.

And then a young journalist, editor and publisher of the World newspaper, Joseph Pulitzer, got down to business. At 18, he arrived in New York penniless from Hungary and began his career as a paperboy. Then he began to write a police chronicle, small notes and quickly became the owner of a dying newspaper. New York World". He instantly restructured her work, appealing to thousands of new emigrants, the same. like himself, perfectly understanding their needs and aspirations. So Pulitzer abruptly joined the campaign to raise money.

“This statue is not a gift from the millionaires of France to the millionaires of America,” he wrote angrily, “it is a gift from the French to all Americans. Take this as a personal call to you!”

Within 5 months, the required amount was collected. This action brought fame to Pulitzer and allowed him to triple the circulation of the newspaper. And today, the Pulitzer Prize is the most prestigious for journalists.

Finally, on October 28, 1886, US President Grover Cleveland, to thunderous fanfare, received the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island, renamed in 1956 in honor of famous statue to Liberty Island.

Initially, an agreement was reached between the governments of the two countries, according to which the French side was responsible for the construction and transportation of the statue, while America prepared a place for it and erected an appropriate pedestal. Both the French and the Americans agreed that a small island at the entrance to New York Harbor would be best suited for their purposes. Here, at one time, the foundation for Fort Wood was already arranged in the form of a ten-pointed star. It could well serve as a foundation for a grandiose pedestal, the first stone of which was laid in 1884.

The statue itself, 47 m high, Bartholdi was going to sheathe with copper sheets no more than 2.4 mm thick. Thin copper had to be minted in a special wooden mold. As a result, Bartholdi and his henchmen made 350 separate skin parts, which in July 1884 were sent by ship to the United States. On Bedloe Island, they were put together like a huge construction kit and put on a steel frame made by Eiffel.

The frame consists of four monumental steel pillars, penetrating the statue to its full height. These supports are attached to the pedestal with huge steel bolts. Distributed on the main supports is the lace of a steel frame, which Bartholdi sheathed with hundreds of details of his designer. To give the statue sufficient strength and flexibility, each element of the copper sheathing was provided with its own independent beam. Bartholdi hoped in advance that the material of the casing would make it easier for him to assemble the statue, because thin sheet copper is easily bent and cut. This allowed for the final adjustment of parts directly on the statue, during the assembly process. One way or another, the Statue of Liberty is without a doubt an example of the skill of a talented French engineer.

In the ensemble with a plinth, made in the classical style by the architect Richard M. Hunt, the height of the statue from the base to the top of the golden flames is 95 m. The seven rays on its crown symbolize the seven seas. For many travelers who crossed the Atlantic to get to America, the Statue of Liberty was a symbol of freedom, independence and prosperity.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary in 1986, the Statue of Liberty underwent a "facelift". The salty sea air corroded its structure so much that a serious restoration was required. Voluntary contributions from citizens across America more than covered the $2 million required for this work. This statue means a lot to the citizens of America - and not only to them.

An invitation to hope

IN figuratively The Statue of Liberty has been the first sign of a new world for the many millions of immigrants who have come to America for the last two centuries.

The famous words on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty belong to the New York poet Emma Lazarus, which were written after sweeping across Russia in the 1880s. waves of pogroms that forced many Jews across the Atlantic.

Since then, her lines have acquired a universal sound, serving as a beacon of hope for all the destitute and persecuted: And give me from the depths of the bottomless Your outcasts, your downtrodden people, Send me outcasts, the homeless, I will light a golden candle for them at the door!

Tourists

Get to Liberty Island (Liberty Island) you can use the ferry departing from the pier of Betteri Park (Battery park). Entering the park, you will see a long organized line, as once in the Mausoleum, these are those who want to visit the island with the statue, which you might want to join.

Visiting the crown is allowed again, but the number of places is limited, so you need to book tickets in advance. Those who have not done this will have to walk around the area around the statue and climb observation platform 16th floor; a special glass ceiling allows you to see the impressive "insides" of the statue. A visit to the island by ferry is usually combined with a visit neighboring island Ellis (Ellis Island). Ferries (Tel: 201-604-2800, 877-523-9849; www.statuecruises.com; adult/child $13/5; every 30 minutes 9am-5pm, longer in summer) depart from battery park (Battery Park) . The nearest tube stations are South Ferry and Bowling Green. Booking ferry tickets in advance (corona visit - additional $3), you will visit both attractions.

An excursion to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is best done in the warm season and during daylight hours.

Of course, in winter there are much fewer people, so. if you are not afraid of the icy piercing wind that reaches the skin through the warmest down coats and gloves, then it is worth a try. Traveling by boat is wonderful, but on open area being in cold weather is very extreme in your feelings. There is an old immigration center on Ellis Island, where all newcomers to the country entered and registered, now there is a museum.

Data

• Title: Officially translated from French, its name is "Liberty that illuminates the world." She is also known as the Statue of Liberty, Lady Liberty or Miss Liberty.
• Design: The author of the statue is the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi. Postav Eiffel was responsible for engineering work, he also created its steel inner frame. The total weight of the statue is 254 tons.
• Dimensions: The statue itself has a height of 46.5 m and stands on a 47-meter pedestal, to the top of which a staircase of 194 steps leads, and 354 steps must be climbed to the crown of the statue.
• UNESCO World Heritage List: The Statue of Liberty was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

Ellis Island

Served from 1892 to 1954 as a staging post for more than 12 million immigrants hoping to start a new life in America, Ellis Island is modest and sometimes even shabby, but on the other hand it symbolizes the fulfillment of desires. Here in the island hospital, more than three thousand people died, many were denied the right to enter. The immigration station on Ellis Island is the second stop for ferries going to the Statue of Liberty. The beautiful main building became the Museum of Immigration (Immigration museum; Tel: 212-363-3200; www.ellisisland.org; New York Harbor (New York Harbor); audio guide $8; 9.30-17.00), where the most interesting exhibitions and film screenings are held about the life of immigrants, about how the influx of population has changed the United States.