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Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, USA

By Viola Woolcott

The Statue of Liberty is back and better than ever after years’ of renovation. The copper Statue was a gift, a gesture of friendship from the French people to the United States on October 28th 1886, created by Frenchman Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. Lady Liberty is said to be one of the most universal symbols of freedom to the world.

The Statue stands at the mouth of the Hudson River as a welcome sign for immigrants and as a welcome home sign for people who have been away.

Since 1886 the Statue stands 151 feet above New York Harbour, bringing you to her feet on Liberty Island by ferry. Through a glass ceiling visitors are able to view the inside of the statue to capture a better image of the statue through the enhanced light effects as well as the video system which surrounds the statue. Inside the Statue there is a narrow winding staircase and if you decide to climb the 354 steps, you have to get thee early, as long lines can take as long as 3-hour ascent. Visitors can walk outside onto the observation deck to view New York City as well as its Harbour.

Just like a goddess, Liberty wears a crown with seven rays which reflect the seven seas and the seven continents. The torch in her right hand signifies enlightenment. The stone tablet in her left hand contains the text “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776), the nation’s birth, the declaration of independence. The Statute of Liberty is one of the most recognized icons in the world.

After September 11th 2001, The Statue of Liberty is something to view. She stands proud and tall in the Harbour and gradually re-opened her doors to those who proudly grace her presence. The ground floor as well as the island are open to the public.

If you are planning a trip to New York, you must see this sight for yourself.

Related reading:
New York Top 10 (Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guides)
New York City (Lonely Planet City Guides)
The Rough Guide to New York City - Edition 10

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Fun Travels. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.