Whether you’re visiting Washington DC or just simply want to learn about this landmark in our nation’s history, there are plenty of the statue of liberty facts that you’ll want to keep in mind. Learn more about its construction with a long history, and how it is famous across the globe.
History
Originally, the statue came with the name of Liberty Enlightening the World. It was a sculpture by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The statue was also to celebrate the emancipation of slaves.
It is the tallest structure in the United States at the time of its construction. The sculpture is a representation of the ancient Roman goddess Libertas, meaning freedom. It also features a broken shackle at its feet, which symbolizes abolition of slavery. The sculpture is a landmark around the world.
It is the tallest structure in the United States at the time of its construction
One of the statue of liberty facts is that it was originally a gift from France to the United States. It arrived in New York harbor aboard the French frigate Isere in June 1885 in crates. The statue lies on Liberty Island.
The two famous French sculptor Frederic-AugusteBartholdi and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel built the statue. They designed the iron and steel framework and created the “spine” of the statue.
Construction – The statue of liberty facts
During the early 1870’s, the construction of the Statue of Liberty began. The French artist Auguste Bartholdi gave the first model. He designed a colossal statue for Egypt, and by large scale public monuments.
Bartholdi worked on his concept for a statue in France, where he also visited America. He met with President Ulysses S. Grant, who agreed to reserve the island of Liberty for the monument. The statue’s design was one of the most impressive technical achievements of the 19th century.
Construction – The statue of liberty facts
There were a number of delays in the construction process. The first element of the building was the hand holding the torch. However, there was an accident in March 1876 that destroyed the cast. The event also destroyed the statue’s head and shoulders. And it took two years later to complete them.
The statue’s outer skin is made of moulded copper sheets, and is separated from the interior framework by a thin layer of asbestos impregnated with shellac.
Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty
Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty originally represented the alliance of America and France, by the French antislavery activist Edouard de Laboulaye. He believed that the United States and France shared ideals of liberalism and republicanism.
Laboulaye proposed the position to place the statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, Upper New York Bay. He hoped that Americans would donate money for the pedestal. The statue symbolizes the liberty and freedom for immigrants. The statue stands on a pedestal with a broken chain.
Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty
They also modeled the statue after the Roman goddess Libertas, and wearing a Phrygian cap, which symbolizes freedom. It holds a tabula ansata, or a tablet, with the date of the United States’ Declaration of Independence. Another the statue of liberty facts is its rays that extend out from the top and represent the seven seas, or continents.
