What's in the hand of the Statue of Liberty. Statue of Liberty in New York

On October 28, 1886, amid cannon shots, blaring sirens and incessant fireworks, the most famous monument United States of America - the legendary Statue of Liberty. From this day on, every ship entering the port of New York meets stone statue women with the torch of freedom in their hand extended to the sky.

History of the Statue of Liberty

Surprisingly, main symbol freedom of the United States is the brainchild of French masters. It was in Paris that the Statue was born. It was then dismantled into pieces and transported across. Here it was reassembled and installed on a powerful plinth, which the Americans themselves built Bedloe’s Island, now Liberty Island. Liberty Island, where the statue is located, is federal property in the state of New York. The island is located closer to the New Jersey coast, which is why some people mistakenly classify it as New Jersey.

The idea of ​​​​creating the Statue of Liberty appeared in 1865 from academician Edouard de Laboulaye. The author of the Statue of Liberty itself is a sculptor from Alsace, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, at that time still a young and unknown master. A few years earlier, Bartholdi had planned to build a huge lighthouse on the Suez Canal. According to his plans, this lighthouse should be in the form of a female figure. The sculpture was supposed to hold a torch in its hands, the light from which was supposed to illuminate the way for the sailors. But at one time the idea of ​​a lighthouse on the Suez Canal was rejected. That is why the young sculptor responded with great enthusiasm to the idea of ​​​​Edouard de Laboulaye.

When creating the sculpture, Bartholdi more than once turned to Delacroix’s painting “Freedom Leading the People to the Barricades.” It was the image of Liberty from this canvas that became the main prototype for the Statue of Liberty. According to one version, Bartholdi even had an American model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, an entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines. "...As the beautiful, French widow of an American entrepreneur, she proved a suitable model for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty." (Ruth Brandon, Singer and the Sewing Machine: A Capitalist Romance).

Engineer Gustave Eiffel was invited to create the statue, who would later become famous as the author of the famous. Eiffel designed an ingenious metal frame structure that was supported by a central support pillar. On this movable frame the outer, that is, visible, shell of the statue made of copper with a thickness of 2.4 millimeters was strengthened. Bartholdi began by building a small figure, only 1.2 meters in size, and then made three more, gradually making them larger. They were adjusted and refined until the optimal option was achieved.

By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal and create a statue and install it in the United States. To avoid financial difficulties, special funds were organized that searched for funds. In France, funds were raised by organizing entertainment events and lotteries. They organized theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing fights. However, the accumulation of funds for the pedestal was slow, and Joseph Pulitzer (known as the founder of the Pulitzer Prize) issued an appeal in his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project fund. This had an effect and contributed to an increase in donations from Americans.

The statue was completed in France in July 1884, and was delivered to New York Harbor on June 17, 1885 aboard the French frigate Isere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 parts and packed into 214 boxes. The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, which was attended by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators.

In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was inscribed on the World Heritage List. In 1986, before the centenary, the monument was temporarily closed for careful restoration and reopened to visitors on July 5, 1986.

Features of the Statue of Liberty

Today the Statue of Liberty is one of national symbols USA. Rising at the mouth of the Hudson at the entrance to New York Harbor, a woman in graceful, flowing robes carrying a torch personifies the freedom and opportunity of the country. On her head she wears a crown with seven teeth, representing the seven seas and seven continents. At the woman's feet are the torn shackles of tyranny. In the woman's left hand she holds a slab with the date of the American Declaration of Independence inscribed on it - July 4, 1776.

The statue was made from thin sheets of copper hammered into wooden molds. The formed sheets were then installed on a steel frame.

The height of the Statue (by the way, it was originally called more pathetically - “Freedom, bringing light to the world”) is 46 meters, so, if we also take into account the 47-meter pedestal, the top of the torch is at a height of 93 meters above the ground. The weight of the monument is 205 tons. The length of the right hand, in which the torch is held, is 12.8 meters, with the index finger alone having a length of 2.4 meters, the width of the mouth is 91 centimeters.

A spiral staircase inside the statue leads tourists to the top. The statue is usually open to visitors, who usually arrive by ferry. The crown, accessible by stairs, offers expansive views of New York Harbor.

In 1972, the Museum of the Settlement of America was opened inside the Statue itself, which can be reached by a special elevator. The entire history of the country is presented here: from the ancestors - the Indians who inhabited the then unknown continent, and right up to the mass migration in the present century.

Opinions about the Statue of Liberty are completely contradictory. Nothing like this had been seen in America before the construction of this sculpture. Connoisseurs noted the high technique of execution, the clarity of proportions and the grace of lines. But opponents of those who recognized the Freedom Monument as the eighth wonder of the world noted that the symbol of Freedom in the form of a statue was interpreted too coldly and dispassionately. It is no coincidence that the epithet appeared that Freedom is “blind”, and greatness is conveyed only by large sizes.

However, evil tongues are not a hindrance to Freedom. All over the world, the Statue is considered a symbol of the United States, embodying the democratic principles of which this country is so proud.

“Liberty Enlightens the World” has been greeting all travelers arriving in New York Harbor for more than a hundred years, and is one of the world’s most famous monuments, a symbol of the United States.

History of the Statue of Liberty

Soon after termination Civil War In the United States, the French scientist and writer Edouard de Laboulaye, who admired the ideas of the American system of statehood, came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a monument that personified the US gaining independence.

The idea was picked up by another Frenchman, Frederic Bartholdi (architect of the Statue of Liberty), who at that time was working on creating a sculpture of a woman with a torch in her hand. Already in 1870, the French sculptor made the first sketches of the monument, with which he sent to the USA for approval of the project. The project finds approval from the American side (including from Ulysses Grant, who was then President of the United States), and representatives of the two powers (France and the United States) decide to begin construction of a monument called “Freedom Enlightening the World.”

With mutual consent of the parties, it is decided that the monument will be a gift to the United States from France on the centenary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States - July 4, 1876. According to the agreement between the countries, the sculpture itself was to be designed by the French side, and the American side would work on the creation of the pedestal.

However, the construction of the monument lasted for 10 long years...

Hand with a torch

After starting work on the project, it becomes clear that there is a catastrophic lack of money to create the monument. On both sides of the ocean, the initiators of the project begin collecting funds for construction, and various charity events are organized.

In August 1876, Bartholdi was forced to bring part of the sculpture (a hand with a torch) to the USA, where the fragment was installed at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, and then in Madison Square. Visitors are charged a fee to visit the Torch Hand, but the proceeds are still not enough to complete the construction.

The US Congress refuses to allocate funds for the construction of the monument, citing the plight of American finances and the untimeliness of erecting an “allegorical” monument, while the country needs monuments to the heroes of the Civil War.

Young journalist Joseph Pulitzer comes to the rescue, launching a large-scale campaign in the press to raise funds for the monument. The journalist calls on Americans to unite, fiercely criticizes those who are indifferent, and promises to write about everyone who makes even a small donation. The campaign was a success and after a few months the required amount was collected.

The fragment returns to France, where Bartholdi begins to work hard on the project: by 1878, the sculptor had already completed the head of the sculpture, and in 1879, Gustave Eiffel was involved in the creation of the monument. It was this talented engineer who designed the steel frame of the statue and the spiral staircases leading to the crown. Bartholdi and his assistants produced 350 cladding parts that were supposed to fit onto the frame. The parts were made of copper, which is easy to cut and bend, which made it possible to “fit” the parts directly during the process of assembling the structure.

The figure of Liberty was hung by the French in 1884, after which the structure was dismantled, and all parts of the sculpture were transported by ship in June 1885 to the United States.
The American side also did not waste time: the pedestal of the statue, designed by Richard Hunt, began to be erected in 1883. With the consent of Congress and taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi, Fort Wood, which had the shape of an eleven-pointed star, and was located on Bedloe Island in the harbor, was chosen as the site for the installation of the statue.

In April 1986, the pedestal was completed and assembly of the complete monument structure began. Finally, on October 26, 1886, the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty took place: President Cleveland, after the parade, went to Bedloe Island, where, amid general rejoicing, he tore down the French flag covering the statue and proclaimed that “Liberty itself has chosen this place as its home!”

general description

Three kilometers from busy Manhattan, in the bay, the majestic Statue of Liberty greets all guests, travelers and citizens.

The monumental monument, 93 meters high, consists of the female figure itself (46 meters) and a concrete pedestal (47 meters). The female figure holds a torch in her right hand, and in her left hand she clutches a tablet on which the date of Independence Day of the United States is carved in Latin letters.

At the foot of the monument lies a broken chain, symbolizing the cast off of the shackles of slavery and the victory of democracy. The crown has windows symbolizing the rays of the sun and gems land. To get to the windows you need to climb 354 steps, and if you climb just to the top of the pedestal - 194 steps. There is an elevator inside the pedestal.

The total weight is over 200 tons (including the cement base, copper coating and steel frame), and the length of the Statue of Liberty is 93 meters (including the pedestal).

At the bottom of the pedestal there is a bronze plate with poems by Emma Lazarus, which appeared here in 1903. The poetess's words were written after a wave of pogroms that swept across Europe in the late 1880s, after which crowds of immigrants poured to the shores of America in the hope of finding a new homeland. The poems convey the idea of ​​the Statue of Liberty - the willingness to take under one’s roof all the outcasts and the disadvantaged, and the promise to give them freedom and equality on this shore.

The visit to Liberty Island and the Statue itself is free, but you can only get to it by water - on ferries and boats, where you will have to pay a certain amount for the trip. You can get to the Statue itself freely, but the number of visitors is strictly fixed. If you do not book a ticket in advance, your visit will be limited to a walk around the pedestal and a climb to the observation deck, where you can see the Statue from the inside through a special glass ceiling.

The Statue of Liberty is open to the public all year round, but it is better to take an excursion in the warm season - in winter Boat trip will bring very dubious extreme pleasures due to the cold northern winds typical for this time of year.

Interesting Facts

The history of the Statue of Liberty is integral to the history of the United States itself, so it is accompanied by a lot of amazing and entertaining facts:

• The personification of the friendship of two peoples: French and American, which formed the basis for the creation of the monument, was happily forgotten over time. Now the Statue of Liberty is presented in the world exclusively as the main symbol of the United States, personifying the victory of democracy and the independence of the country.
• The seven rays emanating from the crown are the seven seas and continents of light, from which travelers sail to America, hoping to find refuge and a new homeland. This is a symbol of hope for all the persecuted, disadvantaged, a haven for sailors and refugees from all countries of the world.
• Initially, Bartholdi worked on creating a female figure with a torch in her hand to install it at the entrance to the Suez Canal - this project was never realized, but served as a prototype for another monument. The Statue of Liberty combines two images - the goddess of freedom ancient Rome Libertas and the symbol of Colombia.
• The characteristic green color of the statue is given by sheets of cladding made of copper. Initially, projects were proposed to clean the surface, but then they decided not to touch the casing that protects the statue from further destructive corrosion.
• Initially, the Statue of Liberty was supposed to be used as a lighthouse, but the lamps built into the structure were not very powerful. Having found no practical use for the Statue, the government's lighthouse department transferred the monument to the United States War Department in 1901. Already in 1933, the monument was transferred to the Department of the Service national parks USA.
• Bedlow Island, previously considered a slum area, significantly changed its status with the establishment of the monument, and in 1956 it was renamed Liberty Island, and 10 years later it was included in the National Register historical places U.S.A.
• For the 100th anniversary of the creation of the monument, a thorough reconstruction of the monument was carried out (sea spray and cold winds thoroughly damaged appearance Statues), initiated by President Reagan. This time, funds for reconstruction were raised among American citizens in the shortest possible time, and more than covered the two million dollars spent on repairs.
• Access to visitors has been closed several times since the installation of the Statue: from 1982 to 1986 (reconstruction), from September 2001 to the end of 2004 (due to the threat of terrorist attacks), and in October 2013 (during the government shutdown ).
• After the successful Normandy operation, the lights of the lighthouse on the statue broadcast the news of victory to the whole world in Morse code.

UNESCO included in the list World Heritage American statue in 1984, describing it as a symbol of peace, glorifying the power of the human spirit, the abolition of slavery, the victory of democracy and human rights.

The erected Statue of Liberty became at the beginning of the twentieth century the personification of independence, prosperity, and free life for many travelers who crossed the Atlantic in search of better life.

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• . And in 6 states there is not a single city where more than 99,999 people live. US cities can be called unique because they all differ from each other not only in climatic and historical indicators, but also because almost every city has its own individual ethnic composition. A large number of immigrants from all over the world created settlements and, settling in the United States, gave the existing culture their own flavor. It may be precisely because of this that not a single language has been officially approved in the United States, but the most common is English in the American style. Los Angeles is the 2nd largest city in the USA. The names of US cities are symbolic, but some may seem unusual to us, to put it mildly. For example, Big Ugly, which we will translate as “Big and Ugly.” And on the map of the USA there are as many as three cities bearing official name“Santa Claus.” Many other things may seem strange in US cities. For example, the fact that almost 1/3 of the cleaners, janitors and waiters here have a complete higher education, but they are not at all embarrassed about this kind of work. Or the fact that no one forbids minors from smoking by law, but it is strictly forbidden to sell them cigarettes. The world's first skyscraper, local TV channel, the first parking lot and traffic light system, the most high mountain and a large freshwater lake - all these are the advantages of different cities in the USA, so there are many reasons to visit each of them. 10 “most” cities in America You can’t argue that every city in the States is unique, but among them it is still possible to identify leaders according to certain criteria: the most Old city in the USA - St. Augustine, which was founded in 1565 in the state of Florida; The city, the largest in area, is Sitka. It occupies almost 7.5 square meters. km in the state of Alaska; the most a large number of The population lives in New York - more than 8 million people. But in this same city the strictest definition of the boundaries of each district is observed; the most populous cities are located in California; the very first city in which a cinema opened was Los Angeles, which happened in 1902; the city with the “lowest” buildings, that is, without the high-rise buildings familiar to America, is Washington. The height of each building, except the Capitol, does not exceed 40 m; the largest outflow of population was observed in the city of Detroit. In the middle of the 20th century, almost 2 million people lived in it, and today - less than 700 thousand. By the way, this is the city with the most intense criminal situation in USA; the poorest city in the States is Allen, simply more than 95% of its population are Indians; the very first city to have electricity was Wabash, Indiana; The most “British” city in the USA is Byron. 5.3% of its residents were born in the UK. ">Cities 2
• and cultural-historical (were created by man in a relatively a little story development of this land. Miraculous wonders of American nature Times SquareFrom many historical monuments recommended to visit Times Square, Golden Gate Bridge, Walt Disney Amusement Park, Pentagon, White House, Empire State The building and, of course, the symbols of the USA - the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Disneyland - the world's largest amusement park - is located in Florida. It unites themed kingdoms, each of which houses a fairy tale for children and adults. The White House Times Square is an iconic place in New York. Just over 100 years ago, construction of the American subway began on this site. The square is named after the New York Times, the most widely read American newspaper, whose publishing house is located here. The White House in Washington is the main building of America. It houses the state governments. The complex of buildings is surrounded by gardens that were created by the country's first ladies. Lots of others interesting places you can see with your own eyes when you visit the United States."> Attractions1
• National parks 1
• and cities equal to them in status. There are more than 3 thousand districts in total. Districts are governed by municipalities, whose rights are determined individually by each state. The USA also includes federal district Columbia, where the capital of the state is located - the city of Washington. In cooperation with the United States there are several independent territories, which can later become full states or terminate relations. These include Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands And Eastern Samoa and other regions. How many states are there in the USA? State of AlaskaThe list of US states consists of fifty items. When the federation was formed, thirteen colonies became part of the state. The remaining states joined voluntarily, or as a result of commercial transactions or hostilities. Among them there are record holders. In terms of maximum area, first place is taken by snowy Alaska, acquired in Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century. The most populous state is sunny and warm California, more than 35 million residents.">States 1

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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 particular monument more often than others in American cinema, and it is no coincidence that, as tourists, we buy copies of the Statue of Liberty in souvenir shops and take home.

Emphasizing the greatness of the monument, the Statue of Liberty is often compared to the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient Greek statue that has not survived to this day. Poet Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet “The New Colossus” for the day of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty. Since 1903, a special plaque with the lines of this work adorns the pedestal of the monument.

By the way, not everyone knows that the full name of the Statue of Liberty is “Liberty Enlightening” the World). The 46-meter (93-meter with pedestal) Statue of Liberty, proudly rising on the island of the same name, is a gift presented to 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 Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.

The original model of the Statue of Liberty was made by Bartholdi in 1870; today this first copy of the legendary monument can be seen in Luxembourg Gardens near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Place for the Statue of Liberty or interesting fact

Bartholdi chose which corner of American soil the monument would rise in. In his opinion, places more ideal than the island Bedloe, located 3 km southwest of southern border Manhattan was simply impossible to find. However, historians are lifting the curtain and revealing some secrets to us.

It turns out that Bartholdi perfectly presented 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, but Bartholdi’s work was not in vain, the sculptor successfully brought his idea into reality in the United States, moreover, the builder of the Suez Canal Lessens was put at the head of the committee for the creation of the Statue of Liberty in the United States .

A little history

The project to erect a monument on Bedloe's Island was approved by the US Congress only in 1877, and this despite the fact that, according to the French plan, the unusual gift was to be ready by the hundredth anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, that is, by July 4, 1876. However, fundraising was delayed, and by this time only a copper hand with a torch was ready, which was sheltered in New York on Madison Square until work on the statue was completed. 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 construction of the monument were collected by everyone possible ways: balls, sports competitions, exhibitions and lotteries were organized. Significant assistance in financing the construction of the monument was provided by the eloquent Pulitzer, publisher of the New-York World newspaper.

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, the official opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York by US President Grover Cleveland took place only on October 28, 1886. Only men were present at the opening ceremony. And this despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of democracy. As an exception, only Lessens's eight-year-old daughter and Bartholdi's wife were allowed to be on the island that day.

By the way, Bedloe Island was officially renamed Liberty Island only in 1956, although Bartholdi proposed 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 his work was continued by Maurice Koechlin. The frame is constructed in such a way that you can easily move around inside the monument and even climb the spiral staircases to the top. There are 354 steps to the main observation deck located in the crown. From there, 25 windows symbolizing precious stones offer an amazing view of 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.

On top of the steel skeleton is covered with copper sheets, masterfully hammered in wooden forms, with a thickness of only 2.37 mm and a total weight of 31 tons. 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 the acquisition of freedom. The plaque in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty states the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776: JULY IV MDCCLXXVI.

The monument's pedestal was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt. Work on its construction began in the summer of 1885 and was completed in April 1886. The cement base of the Statue of Liberty weighs 27 thousand tons. To get to the top of the pedestal, you need to climb 192 steps. Inside the pedestal there is a museum, which can be reached by elevator.

In 1924, the Statue of Liberty was designated a national monument; in the 30s of the 20th century, the entire Bedlow (Liberty) Island became a national monument. national park. In 1984, the UN declared Liberty Island and the legendary monument located on it a monument of world significance.

The Statue of Liberty has been restored several times, and new lighting elements have been added. Currently, the monument is equipped with laser illumination.

Who is she - “Lady Liberty”?

Who was Bartholdi's model, whose face illuminates the world? Who was captured forever by the great sculptor in the image of the Roman Goddess Libertas? Surely, these questions are asked by both the Americans themselves and guests from all over the world.

There are two opinions on this matter. Some believe 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 still remains 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. Login National Park The island is free, however, to get to it you will have to spend money on a ferry, as well as undergo a thorough search at the piers.

Ferries depart from New York. You can travel 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, adults will have to pay 25 USD, children 4-12 years old - 15 USD. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Opens today Observation deck wearing the crown of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

The 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 the "symbol of New York and the USA", "a symbol of freedom and democracy ", "Lady Liberty".

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, approximately 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.

The Statue of Liberty is a gift from the French people to the United States in honor of the centenary of American independence and as a sign of friendship between the two states.

The idea for this symbol came from the French scientist, lawyer and abolitionist Edouard de Laboulaye back in the late 1860s. He proceeded from the fact that America and France were connected by old friendly ties. France provided moral and material support to the American struggle for independence - the French General Lafayette even became a national hero of the United States. The statue was intended as a gift for the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. With this gift, the French wanted to express their admiration for the great republic on the other side of the Atlantic. The French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. His Statue of Liberty was inspired by Delacroix's famous painting "Liberty Leading the People to the Barricades." The internal supporting structure of the tower was made by Gustave Eiffel, the future creator Eiffel Tower.

Work on the statue was completed in France in July 1884. The statue was constructed from thin sheets of copper hammered into wooden molds. The formed sheets were then installed on a steel frame.

In June 1885, the statue was delivered to New York Harbor aboard the French frigate Isere. "Lady Liberty" was transported from France to the United States in disassembled form - it was divided into 350 parts, packed in 214 boxes. Assembling the statue on the pedestal took four months.

On September 11, 2001, as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Shopping mall The Statue of Liberty and the island were closed to the public.

The interior of the statue remains closed to the public, but the iron frame created by Gustave Eiffel can be seen through the glass separator.

In May 2009, it was announced that the Crown Observation Deck of the Statue of Liberty would reopen to tourists on July 4, 2009.

At the very beginning, the statue was not green, it turned green due to atmospheric conditions, the main one being acid rain.

The torch we see today is not the historical torch from 1886. It was replaced during the 1984 - 1986 renovation as its restoration was considered inappropriate. The original torch was modified quite extensively in 1916. Today this torch is displayed in a museum located inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet "The New Colossus", dedicated to the Statue of Liberty. 20 years later, in 1903, it was engraved on a bronze plate and attached to the outside of the pedestal. The last lines of the sonnet in the Russian translation sound like this: “...Give me your tired people, All those who long to breathe freely, abandoned in need, From the close shores of the persecuted, the poor and the orphans, So send them, homeless and exhausted, to me. I raise my torch is at the Golden Gate!"

The following coins were minted with the image of the Statue of Liberty: November 11, 1922 - 15 cent coin; June 24, 1954 - 3 cent coin; April 9, 1954 - 8 cent coin and June 11, 1961 - 11 cent coin.

The New York 25-cent coin, minted in 2001, features the Statue of Liberty with the words “Gateway to Freedom.”

Left: The hand and torch of the Statue of Liberty are being created in a studio in Paris, 1876. Right: The head of the Statue of Liberty is being created in a Paris studio, 1880.

The Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States by the French government in honor of the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The gigantic figure was called “Liberty Illuminating the World” and was created over 10 years in the art studio of 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 a lack of funds, which were to be replenished through voluntary donations, the celebration had to be postponed.

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

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 centenary exhibition. They charged 50 cents to climb into the torch itself. (decent money at that time). The hand with the torch was then transported to New York and installed in Madison Square Garden. And yet there was clearly not enough money.

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 working career as a newspaper delivery boy. Then he began to write police chronicles, small notes and quite quickly became the owner of the dying newspaper “New York World”. He instantly restructured its work, addressing thousands of new emigrants like him. like himself, perfectly understanding their needs and aspirations. So Pulitzer abruptly joined the money-raising campaign.

“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 call addressed to you personally!”

Within 5 months the required amount was collected. This action brought fame to Pulitzer and allowed the newspaper's circulation to triple. And these days, the Pulitzer Prize is the most prestigious award for journalists.

Finally, on October 28, 1886, US President Grover Cleveland, amid great fanfare, accepted the Statue of Liberty on Bedlow Island, renamed Liberty Island in 1956 in honor of the famous statue.

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 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 in the shape of a ten-pointed star was already laid. It could well have served as the foundation for a grandiose pedestal, the first stone of which was laid in 1884.

Bartholdi planned to cover the statue itself, 47 m high, with copper sheets no more than 2.4 mm thick. Thin copper had to be minted using a special wooden mold. As a result, Bartholdi and his assistants produced 350 individual skin parts, which were sent by ship to the USA in July 1884. On Bedloe Island they were put together like a huge construction set and placed on a steel frame made by Eiffel.

The frame consists of four monumental steel supports that span the entire height of the statue. These supports are attached to the pedestal with huge steel bolts. The lace of the steel frame, which Bartholdi covered with hundreds of parts from his designer, is distributed on the main supports. To give the statue sufficient strength and flexibility, each element of the copper plating was equipped with its own independent beam. Bartholdi had hoped in advance that the sheathing material would make it easier for him to assemble the statue, because thin sheet copper bends and cuts easily. This made it possible to make 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 America, the Statue of Liberty was a symbol of freedom, independence and prosperity.

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

An Invitation to Hope

In a figurative sense, the Statue of Liberty was the first sign of a new world for the many millions of immigrants who have come to America over the past two centuries.

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

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

For tourists

Get to Liberty Island (Liberty Island) via ferry from Battery Park Pier (Battery park). Entering the park, you will see a long, organized queue, like once at the Mausoleum; these are those who want to visit the island with the statue, which you may want to join.

Visits to Corona are allowed again, but places are limited so you need to book tickets in advance. Those who have not done this will have to walk along the area around the statue and climb observation deck 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 to neighboring Ellis Island (Ellis Island). Ferries (Tel: 201-604-2800, 877-523-9849; www.statuecruises.com; adult/child $13/5; every 30 min. 9:00-17:00, longer in summer) depart from Battery Park (Battery Park). The nearest metro stations are South Ferry and Bowling Green. Book your ferry tickets in advance (visit to crown - 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 interested, so. If you are not afraid of the icy piercing wind that gets to your skin through the warmest down coats and gloves, then it’s worth a try. Traveling on a boat is wonderful, but being on an open area in cold weather is a very extreme feeling. On Ellis Island there is an old immigration center where all new arrivals to the country were received and registered, now there is a museum there.

Data

• Title: Officially translated from French, its name is “Freedom 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. Posting Eiffel was responsible for the engineering work, and he also created its steel internal frame. The total weight of the statue is 254 tons.
• Dimensions: The statue itself is 46.5 m high and stands on a 47-meter pedestal, to the top of which there is a staircase of 194 steps, and to the crown of the statue you need to walk 354 steps.
• UNESCO World Heritage List: The Statue of Liberty was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

Ellis Island

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