New York’s Grande Dame – The Statue of Liberty

MAITLAND, Fla. - July 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Although you will find many celebrities – well known actors, authors and captains of industry – living in New York, there is another resident who is much more famous than them all. Tall and elegant, the figure of the Statue of Liberty is instantly recognizable all over the world as the ultimate New York landmark. Every tourist to the Big Apple should visit the Big Lady at least once. True, paying homage to Lady Liberty is something of a cliché, but clichés become what they are for good reasons. In this case, innumerable visitors have rubbernecked at this iconic statue because she has such historic significance.

How She Got There

American symbol though she may be, the Statue of Liberty was actually born in France. Gustave Eiffel, designer of Paris’s most famous tower, had a hand in her design, together with sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi. The statue was sent to the US by the French as goodwill present and a representation of freedom. Although rough seas along the nearly sank the carrier that was transporting the Statue (disassembled and occupying an impressive 214 crates), she eventually made it safely to her new home. Then the American people faced the embarrassing problem of finding a way to display this gift. Funds had to be raised for a pedestal mammoth enough to support the lady. After strenuous efforts, the Statue of Liberty was finally erected on a small island in the New York Harbor in 1886.

Design Details

Lady Liberty’s design is full of history. Apparently her face is modeled after that of the sculptor’s own mother. The seven spikes on her crown evoke the seven seas and seven continents. She holds aloft a torch, which represents the concept of liberty. In her other hand she bears a large tablet, whose cover is inscribed with the words “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776), referring to the date the American Declaration of Independence was signed. The statue is an impressive 151 feet tall, 305 feet together with the pedestal she stand on. Made of copper, she was originally orange / brown, but over time oxidation of the metal gradually resulted in the familiar light green hue.

The Statue of Liberty Today

The beloved statue has starred in movies, TV shows and songs. Her torch, which sways when fierce winds blow across the harbor, was replaced in 1984, as part of a general refurbishment prior to Lady Liberty’s centennial celebration in 1986. Although she was constructed to withstand storms and the severe weather conditions of the American Northeast, Liberty Island, where she stands was damaged last year due to Hurricane Sandy and has been closed ever since, although the statue may still be viewed from the vantage point of a boat or helicopter. However, the island is scheduled to reopen to the public on a fitting date – July 4, 2013.

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