April 24, 2002 Statue of Liberty "Liberty Enlightening the World"
	The Statue of Liberty in Paris, France When I visited Paris, France in 1968 I saw the 'small' Statue of Liberty that is located on the River Seine.  Ever since then I have wanted to visit The Statue of Liberty in New York City and now I am finally going to be able to!
More than anything, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of hope, freedom and liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York's Harbor and landed at Ellis Island to begin a new life in America. "I will never forget that October morning in 1907 when I first saw the Statue.  I was on a ship with 1600 people, which had sailed from Italy two weeks before.  There we were, my father, my mother, my two sisters and my brother.  We held each other closely and looked with wonder on this land of our dreams.  There were passengers all around us crowding against the rail of the ship.  The people were talking, crying, laughing and cheering.  Mother and father lifted up the baby and my little brother, too, so that they could see the Statue of Liberty.  I looked at the Statue, hardly believing it was real.  As we got close to it, all the passengers became silent.  This symbol of America seemed to take away our breath.  Many older people, thinking of what they left behind, had been crying.  Now, seeing this symbol of American freedom and hope, they dried their tears." - Anonymous -

A view of the Lady from the ferry Miss New Jersey as we leave Ellis Island

Approaching Liberty Island

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France>  It was designed as a monument to international friendship.  French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi began construction of the Statue in 1875.  The individual sections were completed in June 1884.  It stood in Paris until it was dismantled in 1885 for shipping to the United States.  Engineering of the Statue's assembly was done by Gustave Eiffel. One-hundred tons of copper sheeting covers a steel framework weighing one-hundred and twenty five tons.  The three-hundred and fifty individual pieces were packed in in 214 crates for shipping to the United States aboard the French frigate, Isere. The pedestal or base the Statue stands on was designed in the United States by Richard Hunt in 1877.  In 1883 construction began and was completed in 1884.  The final assembly of the Statue and pedestal was completed in 1886. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland accepted the Statue on behalf of the United States and said in part:  "We will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected".

a view of the front of the Statue

a view of the back of the Statue

full view of the Statue and base

Interesting Statue of Liberty Facts Height from base to torch Foundation of pedestal to torch Heel to top of head Length of hand Length of index finger Size of fingernail Distance across the eye Length of nose Width of mouth Length of right arm Length of sandal 151 ft. 1 in. 305 ft. 1 in. 111 ft. 1 in. 16 ft. 5 in. 8 ft. 13 in. x 10 in. 2 ft. 6 in. 4 ft. 6 in. 3 ft. 42 ft. 25 ft.

The tablet that is in Liberty's left hand reads July 4, 1776 in Roman Numerals (the date the Declaration of Independence was signed).  The seven spikes in her crown represent the Seven Continents:  North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia.  The 25 windows in her crown represent the natural minerals of the earth.  Her Toga represents the Ancient Republic of Rome.  The Torch represents Enlightenment, the chains underfoot represent liberty crushing the chains of slavery.