30 Interesting Facts About the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A gift from France to the United States, it was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

The statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left, inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Standing 305 feet tall from the ground to the tip of the torch, the statue welcomes visitors and immigrants arriving by sea.

Interesting Facts About the Statue of Liberty

1. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States.
2. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
3. Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower, designed the statue’s internal structure.
4. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
5. The full name of the statue is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
6. It stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
7. The statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty.
8. The statue holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.
9. The tablet is inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
10. The statue is 305 feet tall from the ground to the tip of the torch.
11. Lady Liberty’s crown has seven rays, symbolizing the seven continents and seas.
12. The statue’s green color is due to the natural oxidation of its copper skin.
13. The statue’s full weight is approximately 225 tons.
14. The statue was shipped from France to the United States in 350 individual pieces.
15. It took four months to assemble the statue once it arrived in the U.S.
16. Liberty Island was previously known as Bedloe’s Island.
17. The pedestal of the statue was funded by donations from American citizens.
18. Emma Lazarus wrote the famous sonnet “The New Colossus” for the statue’s pedestal fundraising campaign.
19. The statue has a broken chain and shackle at her feet, symbolizing the end of oppression and tyranny.
20. The statue’s torch was originally designed to be an electric lighthouse.
21. The torch was replaced in 1984 due to extensive damage and now has a copper flame covered in 24-carat gold leaf.
22. The Statue of Liberty was designated a National Monument in 1924.
23. The island and statue became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
24. The statue faces southeast, greeting ships entering the harbor from the Atlantic Ocean.
25. Over 4 million people visit the Statue of Liberty each year.
26. The statue’s crown is accessible to visitors who climb 354 steps.
27. The interior of the statue features a spiral staircase.
28. The statue has been closed for renovations and repairs several times, including after 9/11.
29. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving in the United States.
30. The statue appears on the reverse side of the 1986 Liberty Dollar coin.