It was a joint work of France and the United States, built to commemorate the long friendship between the peoples of these two countries. The French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi created the statue itself from sheets of hammered copper, while Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the man who would later create the famous Eiffel Tower, designed the statue's steel structure.

It was given by the French to the United States and mounted on an American-designed pedestal on a small island in Upper New York Bay, now known as Liberty Island, and was presented by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. Over the years, the statue has watched millions of immigrants arrive in America via nearby Ellis Island. In 1986, the statue was extensively reconstructed in honor of the centennial anniversary of its discovery. Today, the Statue of Liberty remains an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

Origin of the Statue of Liberty

Around 1865, when the American Civil War nearing its end, the French historian Edouard de Laboulet suggested that France create a statue to hand over to the United States to celebrate that national success in building a viable democracy. The sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, known for large-scale sculptures, was given the task; the goal was to have the sculpture completed in time for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. The project would be a joint project between the two countries - the French were responsible for the statue, while the Americans would build the pedestal on which it would stand - and symbolize the friendship between their peoples.

Due to the need to raise funds for the statue, work on the sculpture did not begin until 1875. Titled "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World", Bartholdi's massive creation depicted a woman holding a torch in her raised right hand and a tablet in her left engraved with "July 4, 1776", the date of the Declaration of Independence. Bartholdi was said to have modeled the woman's face after his mother's, forging large copper sheets to create the statue's "skin" (using a technique called repousse).

To create a skeleton on which the skin would be assembled, he turned to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the designer eiffel tower Paris. Together with Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, Eiffel built a skeleton from an iron support and steel, which allowed the copper skin to move freely, a necessary condition for high winds in the New York harbor area.

Statue of Liberty: assembly and dedication

While work on the statue continued in France, fundraising efforts for the pedestal continued in the United States, including contests, performances, and exhibitions. Toward the end, New York World owner and editor-in-chief Joseph Pulitzer raised the last necessary funds through his campaign. Designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, the statue's pedestal was built in the courtyard of Fort Wood, a fortress built for the War of 1812 and located on Bedloe's Island at the southern tip of Manhattan in Upper New York Bay.

In 1885, Bartholdi completed the statue, which was dismantled, packed in over 200 crates, and shipped to New York aboard the French frigate Isère. Over the next four months, workers assembled the statue and placed it on a pedestal; its height reached 93 meters along with the pedestal. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland officially unveiled the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

In 1892, the US government opened a federal immigration station on Ellis Island, located near Bedloe Island in Upper New York Bay. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million immigrants arrived on Ellis Island before being allowed to enter the United States. From 1900 to 1914, during the peak years of its operation, about 5,000 to 10,000 people passed each day.

Rising above New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty greeted majestically all who passed through Ellis Island. A plaque at the entrance to the statue's pedestal is engraved with a sonnet entitled "The New Colossus", written in 1883 by Emma Lazarus as part of a fundraising contest. His most famous passage speaks of the statue's role as a welcome symbol of freedom and democracy for the millions of immigrants who came to America in search of a new, better life:

Give me all those tired ones
who is oppressed by the cruelty of your tough temper, -
outcasts passionately thirsting for freedom.

Become a beacon of greatness and glory
my torch at the Golden Gate."

Statue of Liberty through the years

Until 1901, the American Lighthouse Board operated the Statue of Liberty as the statue's torch represented a navigational aid for sailors. After that, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the US War Department due to Fort Wood's status as another operational post for the Army. In 1924, the federal government made the statue a national monument, and it was transferred to the care of the National Park Service in 1933. In 1956, Bedloe Island was renamed Liberty Island, and in 1965, more than a decade after the closure of the Federal Migration Station, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

By the early 20th century, oxidization of the Statue of Liberty's copper skin from exposure to rain, wind and sun gave the statue its characteristic green color known as verdigris. In 1984, the statue was closed to the public and underwent a major restoration, just in time for its centennial celebration. Just as restoration began, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a world heritage. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Liberty Island closed for 100 days; the Statue of Liberty itself was closed to visitors until August 2004. In July 2009, the statue's crown reopened to the public, although visitors must pre-register to climb to the top of the pedestal or crown, The Statue of Liberty can only accommodate 240 people per day.

Highly a large number of tourists visiting the United States of America go there with only one purpose - to see the Statue of Liberty. What features of this sculpture have been attracting the attention of travelers and local residents, with which interesting facts the history of its appearance is connected, as well as the city where the Statue of Liberty is located, and in what other countries of the world can you see copies of this work? You will learn this and much more from this article.

Symbol of New York and USA

Anyone who is at least a little interested in history knows where the Statue of Liberty is located. One of the most famous sculptures of the whole world is located in the state of New York on an island that once bore the name of Bedloe, but after the placement of this masterpiece on it, it is not called anything other than “Liberty Island”. In addition to its stunning size, it is distinguished by deep meaning and fullness, and the art of execution that a talented sculptor was able to show even when working with such a huge structure is simply amazing. Even the indigenous people regularly visit the place where the Statue of Liberty is located, and what can we say about tourists. This monument is interesting not only externally. It distinguishes rich story. He has seen a lot in his almost two hundred years of his life and will see a lot more. From a height of almost 70 meters, given the height of the pedestal, this symbol of independence and peace looks at a person.

What does the Statue of Liberty look like, where is it, in what country?

Although the creation of this masterpiece was timed to coincide with the centenary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence and is considered a gift from the French, it would be correct to call it a joint work of the best masters of these two peoples. Even when the work was in full swing, what will it look like in final version the Statue of Liberty was not fully known. There is an opinion that even the Egyptian government was asked to receive this work of art as a gift, but it considered it too costly to transport and install it.

If the execution of the sculpture itself was laid on the shoulders of the French, then the Americans were required to find appropriate place where the Statue of Liberty will be located after arriving in the country, and prepare a reliable pedestal for it.

Merit of two nations

Both peoples simply did not have enough funds to complete the work, so they went to various tricks to raise money. Theatrical performances, auctions, charitable gatherings, various entertainment events were held, the purpose of which was to attract as many sponsors as possible. As a result, the goal was achieved, the right amount Money collected and the work was completed, although ten years late from the planned deadline, but today it is not so important.

Not less well-known analogues

The statue, located on Liberty Island, has no less professionally made copies and analogues in many countries of the world. They also receive the attention of tourists and local residents, but always, despite their value to the owner country, on a global scale they will remain only a semblance of the world-famous cultural and historical heritage of America.

Those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located in France will be given seven answers at once. There are four in Paris alone. The Parisian museum holds a smaller model of the New York statue and is the most significant for history buffs. Just two meters high copy famous sculpture can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, and near the Eiffel Tower there is already a rather large, eleven-meter analogue. It is already a return gift from the Americans to the French and is installed in the direction to the west, that is, as if facing the original. It symbolizes peace between the two nations.

It deserves attention

In the place where the life of everyone's beloved Princess Diana tragically ended, there is also a monument to Freedom. It was erected long before the tragic events, but it became especially visited after them. His torch is constantly filled with bouquets of flowers brought by the fans of the deceased.

Tourists who visit Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer do not leave this city without a photo taken near the gilded sculpture. Its form is copied from the New York original, but the luminous torch distinguishes it from all its fellows. "Glowing Freedom" - that's what the locals call it.

In a small square in Poitiers, in memory of Frederic Bartholdi, who created that very American statue, a copy of the masterpiece he created was also installed on the centenary of his death. The area has the same name, and it is not at all difficult for tourists to find it.

For those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located, the country of Japan has prepared a wonderful surprise. On the island of Odaiba in Tokyo, there is a beautiful monument, which is almost an exact copy of the world-famous statue. It was made very skillfully, and every person who visits the capital of Japan will definitely bring memorable pictures taken near it.

Did you know?

It turns out that even in Russia and Ukraine you can find places where the Statue of Liberty is located. Few people know in what city such specimens are located, but in Moscow, guides will definitely tell you about the monument to Nikolai Andreev, which, unfortunately, has not survived to our time, as it was destroyed, but the head of the monument is still kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. In the Ukraine special attention deserves the smallest statue of Liberty in the world, located in Uzhgorod. Its height is only 30 cm, and its weight is 4 kg, but nevertheless it brings quite a lot of benefits, as it is an operating lighthouse on the Uzh River. And in Lviv there is the only sitting Statue of Liberty in the world, a huge number of tourists come to see it every year.

Symbols of freedom have always been and will be relevant for any nation. Freedom and peace are among the greatest values ​​of mankind. Being next to majestic monuments architecture, one can simply physically feel that pressure, that fortitude that was inherent in the fighters for a free and independent existence and allowed them to free themselves from the oppression of the invaders.

- 5564

The main symbol of the United States is none other than the ancient deity Hekate, created by the hands of a French freemason.

Quite a lot is known about the influence of Freemasonry on the creation of the United States, from the founding fathers to the symbolism of the dollar. Pyramids, stelae, the all-seeing eye, etc. also decorate various government buildings in the US.

However, about the most important symbol of the United States - the Statue of Liberty - as a rule, no connections are made with Freemasonry.

Let's take a look at Wikipedia. It says: The Statue of Liberty (English Statue of Liberty, full name - Liberty Enlightening the World) is 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.

Let us turn to the history of the creation of the statue. Its author is none other than the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Before he became a sculptor, Bartholdi traveled extensively in Egypt, and also served as Garibaldi's aide-de-camp during the Franco-Prussian War. However, the time of the creation of the statue coincides with the entry of Bartholdi into the Masonic lodge (Alsace-Lorraine branch) - it was 1875. The statue was installed and opened in New York 11 years later. By the way, the supporting structures were designed by none other than Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (Bonikhausen), known for his adventure in embezzling huge funds for fictitious work during the construction of the Panama Canal, but who became famous for his ugly structure in the center of Paris. Eiffel was also a member of the Masonic lodge, and another brother in the lodge, who at that time held the post of Prime Minister of France, helped him get out of the Panamanian scam (after all, Freemasonry is above the law!).

As for the statue, its description says that 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", indicating the date of the United States Declaration of Independence. In addition, on the head of the "goddess" is a crown with seven rays, which symbolize the seven seas and seven continents. The statue itself has 356 steps to the crown, or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown itself, which symbolize earthly gems and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The total height of the composition is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal, and the statue itself is 46 meters.

No analogies with the symbolism of secret societies and ancient religions. You can make a connection with the number seven, which was very fond of Masons and other secret societies, as well as disassemble other numbers according to esoteric numerology, although the obvious suggests itself.

Some believe that since the statue depicts the goddess of freedom, it means that this is Libera, who was the deity of fertility in ancient Roman mythology and religion. She was often identified with the goddesses Proserpina or Ariadne and was the wife of Dionysus-Liber. Dionysus, in turn, is a late interpretation of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris, in connection with which many authors saw in Liber the widow of Osiris and the mother of Horus.

However, a thoughtful reader may immediately discover some oddities - why is the goddess of freedom holding a torch in her hands? Why do you need a torch in broad daylight? Yes, and the goddesses mentioned were traditionally portrayed differently.

But the goddess Hekate, who was the mistress of hell, darkness, night visions and witchcraft, was depicted with a torch and horns-rays on her head (according to legend, there were snakes in her hair, like the Gorgon's medusa). By the way, it was believed that she was close to various goddesses of fertility in her chthonic functions.

The most recognizable symbol of New York and the United States throughout the world is the monumental Statue of Liberty. The full name of the sculpture is "Liberty Enlightening the World" (English - Liberty Enlightening the World).

The statue rises in New York Bay, on Liberty Island, located 3 km from south coast always busy Manhattan. in honor of the statue former island Bedloe was popularly called at the beginning of the 19th century, it was officially renamed in 1956.

The sculptural image of the goddess of Liberty is deeply symbolic. The inscription on the tablet, which Liberty holds in her left hand: "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" - "July 4, 1776" - the official date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. With one foot, the goddess stands on broken fetters. The Crown of Liberty has seven rays - this number echoes the number of continents and seas (seven each - according to Western geographical tradition).

Monuments-copies of the Statue of Liberty Bartholdi can now be found in different countries peace. The most famous of them are in Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas.

Weight and height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA

According to various sources, the weight of copper in the statue is from 27.22 to 31 tons, the weight of the steel structure is 113.4-125 tons. The total weight of the Statue of Liberty exceeds 200 tons.

The height of the Statue of Liberty in New York is 93 meters, it includes a concrete and steel pedestal and a 46-meter female figure with a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left.

There is an elevator inside the pedestal. To climb to the crown of Liberty from the level of her feet, it is necessary to overcome 377 steps.

Contrary to popular belief, the Statue of Liberty in the United States is not one of the ten tallest monuments in the world in terms of its height. However, taking into account the pedestal, it takes 6-8th place in the list of the largest monuments (depending on the classification), is the most tall statue in the USA.

History of the Statue of Liberty

France is the country that donated the Statue of Liberty to the United States on the centenary of the American Revolution.

Copper neoclassical sculpture designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The supporting structure was carefully thought out by Gustave Eiffel and his assistant engineer Maurice Koechlin. According to the agreement, the monument was erected by the American side according to the project of R. M. Hunt.

The site for the monument in New York Harbor was approved by Congress in 1877, taking into account the wishes of the sculptor Bartholdi, who chose the island, past which all ships sailed to New York.

For a number of reasons, the statue was installed later than the anniversary date. Funding problems were relevant for both countries. To attract investors, the right hand torch was first completed: they were exhibited in 1876 at the Philadelphia World's Fair in 1876, and then exhibited in New York's Madison Square.

The French part of the monument - the figure of Liberty - was completed in 1884. The frigate Ysere delivered the statue to New York on June 17, 1885. 350 components of the future design were packed in 214 boxes. It took about 4 months to assemble.

The opening of the Statue of Liberty on October 28 was accompanied by a solemn parade through the streets of New York. The ceremony on the island was attended by senior politicians chaired by US President Steven Grover Cleveland. The builders laid the first stone of the pedestal on August 5, 1885. To strengthen the structure, steel lintels and upward anchor beams (similar to the frame of the Eiffel Tower) were built into the masonry for mounting the statue.

A green coating characteristic of copper has been covering the statue since about 1900, natural oxidation protects the metal from atmospheric influences.

Since 1933, the statue has been administered by the US National Park Service (NPS).

During the Second World War, the landmark-symbol remained open to tourists, but was not illuminated at night. On the day of the successful Normandy operation on June 6, 1944, the lights of the lighthouse statue transmitted the message of victory (letter V in Morse code).

In 1946, the inside of the statue was covered within reach of visitors with a special plastic from which the inscriptions can be easily washed off.

The original torch of the Statue of Liberty is now in the museum inside the pedestal. As you know, it was badly damaged as a result of an explosion on the Black Tom Peninsula in 1916, later modernized, but still required restoration, since water began to penetrate through it into the monument. As part of a large-scale restoration in 1984, the torch was replaced with its exact historical copy: it reflects the sun's rays during the day and is illuminated by searchlights at night.

The American Statue of Liberty was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984 as "a masterpiece of the human spirit, a powerful symbol of peace, human rights, the abolition of slavery, global democracy and opportunity."

In a restored form, the statue became available to visitors in 1886. A second temporary closure occurred shortly after the September 11 attacks until the end of 2001, but the pedestal only became available in August 2004. Later, the monument was closed to visitors twice: for the period of installation of new elevators (for a year from October 2011), due to the suspension of the government (October 1-13, 2013).

How to get there

Entrance to national park Liberty Island is free, but access to it is possible only by ferry, for a trip on which you need to pay a fixed amount. The route also covers Ellis Island, which is now home to the Immigration Museum. The piers of the island are closed to private vessels.

Special cruise ferries (Statue Cruises ferries) run daily (except December 25), departing from two berths: from Manhattan's Battery Park and from Liberty State Park to Jersey City (New Jersey). The first ferry to the island departs at 9:30, the last at 15:30.

The cost of a ferry ticket to the Statue of Liberty: for adults and children from 13 years old - $ 18.5, for children 4-12 years old - $ 9, for the elderly (from 62 years old) - $ 14, children under 4 years old - free of charge. It is recommended to book tickets in advance - on the official website of the ferry company (so that the site is available - the entrance is anonymous). You can also check additional rates on the US National Parks website.

Statue of Liberty webcams

New York webcams with a view of the Statue of Liberty view the main monument from different angles - a great way to see the landmark in absentia.

Video "Statue of Liberty"

Statue of Liberty (yes, with a small letter) - this giant woman in a crown and with a torch in her hand ... who is she? - Another fairy tale about the American dream and the ideals of democracy, or is it still national pride? - Well, of course, the pride of the nation - the only question is what kind of nation in question. It is not customary to talk about the true origin and ordeals of sculpture, about its origins, originating in incompatible cultures, and the financial side of the existence of a “lady”. The fable about the gift in honor of the friendship between France and the United States travels the world as traditionally as the ruddy Santa Claus - another brainchild of commerce. But we still turn over a few pages of history back and see how it really happened.

The idea of ​​​​creating a statue belongs to Frederic Auguste Bartholdi - if you can call it an idea to create an unoriginal monument, boasting only fragments of classical art and gigantic dimensions. Bartholdi was born in 1834 into a wealthy Jewish family and studied with the famous masters of Paris - without much zeal, but full of ambitious plans. In order to get out into the people, Bartholdi resorted to the help of influential relatives who were directly related to the Freemasons (recall that on July 4, 1776 their representatives signed the Declaration of Independence, which opened the way to the creation of an independent state).

Egyptian sketches

In the 70s of the 19th century, under the control of Freemasons in Egypt, the construction of the Suez Canal took place. The young ambitious Bartholdi came here, and his imagination was struck by the majestic monuments of this region, which survived the millennia. So the idea was born in his head to create something as colossal and impressive that would forever perpetuate his name. Meeting with the head of construction, Ferdinand Lesseps, Frederick persuaded him to gossip about his plan. The proposal looked like this: to install a giant statue at the entrance to the future canal - it should have been twice as high Great Sphinx and serve as a beacon.

Bartholdi decided not to wait for the muse, but to hastily make some kind of model for consideration by the local government (it was he who was credited with the alleged financing of the project). Yes, and it was not necessary to invent anything - this was already done by the ancient Greeks, who created around 280 BC the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world. This huge statue of an athletic youth gazing out to sea was erected at the entrance to the harbor of the island of Rhodes and subsequently partially destroyed by an earthquake. Bartholdi “dressed up” the model in Egyptian clothes, placed an amphora in his hand, and crowned his head with a wreath. But Lesseps advised him to use the attributes of the ancient Iranian god Mithra - the god of peace, harmony, and later the sun. So the statue received in return a torch and a seven-pointed crown.

Have you started thinking about the title: "Progress Bringing Light to Asia"? Or replace "progress" with "Egypt"? And then they remembered the painting “Freedom on the Barricades”, popular in France, by the romantic painter Eugene Delacroix. The word "freedom" was already temptingly "glued" to the project of the statue, but the government refused to spend money on a gigantic idol - so Bartholdi returned to France without salt and slurp.

French incarnation

The year 1876 was approaching, the centenary of American independence. Hearing in the political circle complaints about the lack of genuine masterpieces of art dedicated to Freedom in America, the French senator and member of the same Order of Freemasons, Edouard de Laboulet, decided to revive the failed project in Egypt. All this, of course, had to be properly presented to the masses: it was decided to “gift” the statue to the States “as a sign of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”

But the "gift" had to be paid - both to French and overseas ordinary citizens. A whole Franco-American Union, headed by Laboulet, was urgently established, and committees were organized in both states to organize fundraising. And at the head of the French headquarters was none other than our old friend - Ferdinand Lesseps! The fundraising campaign in the United States was led by Joseph Pulitzer, later known as the creator of the most prestigious journalism award, and then still the publisher of the New York World newspaper. With an understanding of all the intricacies of mass fraud, he criticized rednecks and moneybags, referring to ordinary Americans (the merchant is not a blunder - this significantly increased the circulation of his newspaper!) No one will tell us exactly how much money the friendly gentlemen laundered for a good cause, but only in the USA in this way withdrew $100,000 from circulation.

The main work on the creation of the statue was done by the famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel, then not yet famous for his famous tower. He made all the calculations, and also designed the iron support of the monument and the supporting frame, which was then sheathed with metal sheets. Bartholdi got down to business again, and added a few modern details: at the feet of the statue he placed “broken chains of tyranny”, put the Book of Laws (Declaration of Independence) in his left hand, and now dressed the “lady” in Roman clothes. But that's not all: Bartholdi gave her the features of his mother, Charlotte Beiser.

american life statue

After being made, the statue, hopelessly late for the event to which it was dedicated, was brought to the United States and installed on Bedloe Island (it was renamed Liberty Island only in 1956). This island, like Manhattan itself, actually belonged (and belongs) to respectable wealthy Jewish families. Later, it was here that business districts, dizzying skyscrapers appeared, and in general the largest financial center of the world was formed. The official opening of the statue on October 28, 1886 was attended by representatives of the Freemasons, including US President Grover Cleveland. The pathetic speech was delivered, apparently to pay tribute to refined sarcasm: "We will never forget either that Freedom has chosen a home here, or that the altar chosen by her will never be abandoned." Although no, why not - after all, these people had great power and were really free!

At first, masculine "freedom" did not evoke any enthusiasm or patriotic feelings among people. And Bartholdi had to somehow explain the suspicious symbolism of his offspring: the torch is an attribute of Enlightenment, and the crown is a symbol of seven oceans and seven continents (I remember there were only six of them when we last time checked ...) And then the time of the First World War came - the right moment to hypocritically manipulate people's minds and cash in on the patriotism of gullible townsfolk. A mass circulation and advertising campaign of posters depicting the statue began. This is how some of the most ancient motivational posters were born (from which, in turn, demotivators, beloved by all, originate). The proceeds from the sale of these multi-colored pieces of paper (under the guise of a true symbol of America's Freedom), and covered almost half of the military budget.

Today, the monument is promoted no worse than the Eiffel Tower and the pyramids in Giza, continuing to bring income to the circle of the elite, "who are not talked about." And the statue still stands on a pedestal, at the base of which the words are carved: “Give me your fatigue, your poverty and breathe freely ...”