Who designed the American Statue of Liberty. Where is the Statue of Liberty located? What does the statue symbolize and mean?

One of the most famous landmarks of the USA, which is known not only to the indigenous population of the country, but to each of us. The Statue of Liberty is located in New York - a monument that can be especially often seen in films, as well as photographs of American tourists.

Opening memorial place accompanied by a cannon salvo, fireworks and the blaring of sirens. The long-awaited event happened back in 1886. Since that time, ships entering the port of New York are greeted by a stone statue of a woman holding the torch of freedom in her hand.

No matter how paradoxical it may sound, but symbol of America was the brainchild of French masters. It was there that the statue appeared to the light for the first time. Having taken it apart piece by piece, it was sent sailing straight across the Atlantic Ocean. Already in New York it was assembled and placed on a powerful base, already made by Native Americans. The statue was installed on Bedlow Island, which was later renamed Liberty Island.

The monument was conceived by academician Edouard de Laboulaye in 1865, and the author of the work was Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor originally from Alsace. The sculptor chose Bedlow Island for his own reasons, and in general, he imagined the monument not only on it, but also in Port Said (Suez Canal). Bartholdi failed to bring his project “Egypt Bringing Light to Asia” to life, but for America the idea came in handy.

The project was approved in Congress in 1877, even though, according to the plan, the sculpture should have appeared already in 1876, on the day the US Declaration of Independence was signed. However, it was not possible to immediately raise the required amount of money for the construction of the masterpiece; the deadlines were delayed. Lady Liberty reached New York on July 17, 1885. Over the course of four months, the monument was put together. There is one interesting fact associated with the opening of the monument on October 28, 1886. The ceremony was held in the company of only men, and this despite the fact that the statue represents a symbol of freedom. Only a little girl of eight years old and one woman were able to visit the island that day - Lessens' daughter and Bartholdi's wife.

What is the Statue of Liberty? The monument is formed by a steel frame weighing 125 tons. To design and build the structure, Gustav Eiffel was called in to help, who was replaced a little later by Maurice Koechlin. Inside the structure you can move and climb to the very top using a spiral staircase. To get to the observation deck you have to climb 354 steps. This path will seem easy after you look out of one of the 25 windows at the very top and see an incredible panoramic view.

The top of the steel skeleton is covered with copper plates, forming the silhouette of the monument. Copper was supplied for them from Russia. A symbol of freedom is also a broken shackle at one of the statue’s feet.

Initially she was nicknamed "Freedom, bringing light to the world", then renamed to the current one. The height of the sculpture is 46 meters. If you count all the elements of the statue together with the torch, the height will be 93 meters. Weight reaches 205 tons.

The statue received national monument status in 1924, followed by Bedloe Island itself. The monument was restored several times and new lighting was added.

Many people may have a question: “Who was the prototype of the statue?”. There are two versions. According to one of them, it is believed that Bartholdi was inspired by the image of Isabella Bayer (the widow of Isaac Singer). Another claims that the image belongs to his mother Charlotte.

Inside the statue opened a museum in 1972, accessible by elevator. The museum provides information about the history of the country's settlement. There are many conflicting opinions about the symbol of America. Some spoke about the high technique of execution, the clarity and grace of the lines, while others believe that it is impossible to talk about this statue as a symbol of freedom, it is too dispassionate and cold. Only opinions do not prevent residents of the United States, and the whole world in particular, from considering the Statue of Liberty a symbol of the country.

Statue of Liberty in New York (New York, USA) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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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 the 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 an 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 present 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.

Statue of Liberty(English Statue of Liberty, full name - Liberty Enlightening the World) - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called the “symbol of New York and the USA”, “symbol of freedom and democracy ", "Lady Liberty". This is a gift from French citizens for the centennial of the American Revolution.

Location

The Statue of Liberty is located in New York, on Liberty Island, which is located three kilometers southwest of the coast of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French for the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution, was made in France in 1884 and transported to America in parts. The opening of the statue took place on October 28, 1886, ten years late to the originally planned date.

Description of the object

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 indicates the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

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.

History of origin

The French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. It was intended as a gift for the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, the creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines.

The Statue of Liberty was originally planned to be installed in Port Said under the name The Light Of Asia, but the then Egyptian government decided that transporting the structure from France and installing it was too expensive.

By mutual agreement, America was to build the pedestal, and France was to create the statue and install it in the United States. However, there was a shortage of money on both sides Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing matches were held to raise funds.

Meanwhile, in France, Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve the design issues associated with the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (future creator Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design a massive steel support and intermediate support frame that would allow the statue's copper shell to move freely while maintaining an upright position. Eiffel handed over the detailed developments to his assistant, the experienced structural engineer Maurice Koechlin. The copper for the statue was purchased from existing stocks in the warehouses of the Société des métaux company of entrepreneur Eugene Secretan. Its origins have not been documented, but research in 1985 showed that it was mainly mined in Norway on the island of Karmøy.

The legend about copper supplies from Russia was verified by enthusiasts, but was not confirmed. Besides, railways in Ufa and Nizhny Tagil construction was carried out later; Accordingly, the version of ore supplies cannot be taken seriously. It is also noteworthy that the concrete base under the statue is made of German cement. The Dickerhoff company won a tender to supply cement for the construction of the foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York, which at that time was the largest concrete structure in the world.

The location for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by an Act of Congress in 1877, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi himself, on Bedloe's Island, where a star-shaped fort had stood since the beginning of the 19th century.

Fundraising for the pedestal proceeded slowly, and Joseph Pulitzer (of Pulitzer Prize fame) issued an appeal in his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project.

By August 1885, problems with financing the pedestal, designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, had been resolved, and the first stone was laid on August 5.

Construction was completed on April 22, 1886. Two square lintels made of steel beams are built into the massive masonry of the pedestal; they are connected by steel anchor beams that extend upward to become part of the Eiffel frame of the statue itself. Thus, the statue and the pedestal are one.

The statue was completed by the French in July 1884 and 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. (Her right hand with a torch, completed earlier, had already been exhibited at the World's Fair in Philadelphia in 1876, and then in Madison Square in New York.) 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. As a French gift for the centennial of the American Revolution, it was ten years late.

The national monument, the Statue of Liberty, officially celebrated its centennial on October 28, 1986.

Operating mode

Visiting hours for Liberty Island and Ellis Island are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with extended hours during the summer months)

How to get there

The entrance to Liberty Island Park itself is free, but tourists will have to fork out a little for the ferry. Ferries go to this island, and at the same time to Ellis Island, from two piers - from Battery Park in Manhattan and from Liberty State Park in Jersey City on the other side one of New York Bay. Moreover, upon boarding, passengers undergo a thorough search, similar to what is available at airports around the world.

From France with love

Despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty is an unofficial symbol of the United States, its homeland is France, which is under America laughed at the war with Great Britain. The monument was conceived as a gift frommany freedom-loving peopleto another, but also to anotherThe Ricans contributed to the creation of the masterpiece - the pedestal of the statue was made in the USA.

Loubetter than pObetter than ever

The statue could well have ended up in Egypt instead of New York, because the author of the monument had such plans. It was supposed to be installed as a gig nt lighthouse at the entrance to the Suez Canal in the city of Port Said. Butachieve agreement on this project and failed.

Creative duet

The author of the Statue of Liberty is the architect Frederic Bartholdi. But another famous Frenchman, engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel, creator of the Eiffel Tower, also worked on the monument. Bartholdi was responsible for appearance statues, while Eiffel was developing the iron shell and frame.
Travel to New York

In order to transport the statue across the ocean, the sculpture was dismantled into 350 parts and loaded onto the French frigate Isere. The complexity of the operation also lay in the fact that the weight of the statue exceeded 150 tons. Already on American soil, its assembly and installation lasted four months.

Crown, stones and rays

The prototype of Liberty, according to art historians, was the famous French model Isabella Boyer, the widow of Isaac Singer, the founder of a sewing machine manufacturing company. Frederic Bartholdi imbued Lady Liberty with iconic details. Thus, 25 viewing windows located in the crown of the statue symbolize precious stones that are mined in the United States. And the seven rays emanating from the crown are a symbol of the seven seas and seven continents, that is, a sign of the widespread spread of freedom.

Bird's-eye

To climb up observation deck, located inside the crown, visitors will have to climb 192 steps to the top of the pedestal and 356 steps already inside the monument. The reward for your efforts will be a magnificent view of the New York coastline. The total height of the statue - from the base to the top of the torch - is 93 m.

Kind with healthy

The Statue of Liberty turned out to be an excellent beacon for ships heading to Manhattan past Bedlow's Island, on which the monument stands. Today, the need for a lighthouse has disappeared, but the Statue of Liberty does not stand idle: a historical museum is located inside it.
American dream without borders

Replicas of the Statue of Liberty can be found in many cities around the world. Only in Paris are four smaller replicas of the famous Lady Liberty installed. Tokyo, Las Vegas, Lvov, Uzhgorod, Dnepropetrovsk have their own Freedom.

Time is money

Entrance to the observation deck, as well as visiting the museum located inside the statue, is free. But you will have to pay a small amount to take the ferry to Bedloe Island. You will have to spend not only money, but also time: visitors are carefully searched. Precautions were increased after September 11: for example, the crown of the Statue of Liberty became open to the public only in 2009.

The color of history

The Statue of Liberty often appears in various films. The creators of Titanic also filmed one episode against the backdrop of the famous sculpture - and made a historical mistake. In the film, the statue has a familiar greenish tint. But in 1912, during the events of the film drama, the copper of the monument had not yet oxidized and was of a noble metallic color.

Features of the Statue of Liberty

Features of the Statue of Liberty Today the Statue of Liberty is one of the national symbols of the United States. 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.

Conclusion

The history of the Statue of Liberty and the island where where she stands -this is a story of change. The statue wouldla placed on grathread pedestal inside Fort Wood, built for the war 1812 , the walls of which are laid out in the shape of a star. The U.S. Lighthouse Service was responsible for maintaining the statue until 1901. After 1901, this mission was assigned to the War Department. By presidential proclamation of October 15, 1924, Fort Wood (and the statue on its grounds) was declared a national monument, the boundaries of which coincided with the boundaries of the fort.

October 28, 1936, at the 50th anniversary of the statue's unveiling, US President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Freedom and peace are living things. For them to continue to exist, each generation must protect them and put new life into them.”

In 1933 maintenance of the national monument was transferred to the Service national parks. On September 7, 1937, the national monument was enlarged to cover all of Bedlow Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Memorial. In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to lead a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty. The restoration raised $87 million through a partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Corporation, the most successful public-private collaboration in history. American history. In 1984, at the beginning of work on its restoration, the Statue of Liberty was included in the List World Heritage UNESCO. On July 5, 1986, the restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public during Liberty Weekend celebrating her centennial.

Since 1984, the Statue of Liberty has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The sculpture is a gift from France for the 1876 World's Fair and the centennial of American Independence. The statue holds a torch in its right hand and a tablet in its left. The inscription on the tablet reads “English. JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" (written in Roman numerals for the date "July 4, 1776"), this date is the day the United States Declaration of Independence was adopted. “Freedom” stands with one foot on broken shackles.

Visitors walk 356 steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown, which symbolize earthly precious stones and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The seven rays on the crown of the statue symbolize the seven seas and seven continents (the Western geographical tradition counts exactly seven continents).

The total weight of copper used to cast the statue is 31 tons, and the total weight of its steel structure is 125 tons. The total weight of the concrete base is 27,000 tons. The thickness of the copper coating of the statue is 2.57 mm.

The height from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.

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

The statue is usually open to visitors, usually arriving by ferry. The crown, accessible by stairs, offers expansive views of New York Harbor. The museum, located in the pedestal, houses an exhibition on the history of the statue. The museum can be reached by elevator.

The territory of Liberty Island was originally part of the State of New Jersey, subsequently administered by New York, and is currently administered by the Federal Government. Until 1956, the island was called "Bedloe's Island". Bedloe's Island), although it was also called the “Island of Freedom” since the beginning of the 20th century.

Statue of Liberty in numbers

Inside the statue's crown

View of the statue from afar

Video on the topic

Making a statue

The idea of creating the monument is attributed to Edouard René Lefebvre de Laboulaye, a prominent French thinker, writer and politician, president of the French anti-slavery society. According to the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it was expressed in a conversation with him in mid-1865 under the impression of the victory of anti-slavery forces in the American Civil War. Although this was not a specific proposal, the idea inspired the sculptor.

The repressive political situation during the reign of Napoleon III in France did not allow the implementation of the idea. In the late 1860s, Bartholdi managed for a time to interest the ruler of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, in the construction of a huge statue resembling the Colossus of Rhodes. The statue was originally planned to be installed in Port Said under the name The Light Of Asia, but ultimately the Egyptian government decided that transporting the structure from France and installing it was too costly for the Egyptian economy.

It was intended as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. By mutual agreement, America was to build the pedestal, and France was to create the statue and install it in the United States. However, there was a shortage of money on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing matches were held to raise funds.

Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines.

Meanwhile, in France, Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve the design issues associated with the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (the future creator of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design a massive steel support and intermediate support frame that would allow the copper shell of the statue to move freely while maintaining an upright position. Eiffel handed over the detailed developments to his assistant, the experienced structural engineer Maurice Koechlin. Copper for the statue was purchased from existing stocks at the company's warehouses Société des métaux entrepreneur Eugene Secretan. Its origins have not been documented, but research in 1985 showed that it was mainly mined in Norway on the island of Karmøy. The legend about copper supplies from Russian Empire(Ufa and Nizhny Tagil) was checked by enthusiasts, but did not find documentary evidence. It is also noteworthy that the concrete base under the statue is made of German cement. The Dickerhoff firm won a tender to supply cement for the construction of the foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York, which was to become the world's largest concrete structure at that time.

Before completion design work Bartholdi organized in the workshop Gaget, Gauthier & Co the beginning of work on making the right hand of the statue holding a torch.

In May 1876, Bartholdi participated as part of the French delegation to the World's Fair in Philadelphia and organized the display of numerous paintings of the statue at celebrations in New York dedicated to this exhibition. Due to a delay in registration, the hand of the statue was not included in the catalogs of exhibits at the exhibition, however, it was shown to visitors and made a strong impression. Visitors had access to the torch balcony from where they could admire the panorama exhibition complex. In reports it was called “Colossal Hand” and “Bartholdi’s Electric Light”. After the exhibition ended, the hand with the torch was transported from Philadelphia to New York and was installed in Madison Square, where it stood for several years until its temporary return to France to join the rest of the statue.

Fundraising for the pedestal proceeded slowly, and Joseph Pulitzer (of Pulitzer Prize fame) issued an appeal in his World newspaper to support fundraising for the project.

By August 1885, funding problems for the pedestal, designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, had been resolved and the first stone was laid on August 5. Construction was completed on April 22, 1886. Built into the massive masonry of the pedestal are two square lintels made of steel beams; they are connected by steel anchor beams that extend upward to become part of the Eiffel frame of the statue itself. Thus, the statue and the pedestal are one.

The statue was completed by the French in July 1884 and 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. (Her right hand with a torch, completed earlier, had already been exhibited at the World's Fair in Philadelphia, and then in Madison Square in New York.) The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, with a speech by US President Grover Cleveland, took place on October 28, 1886, in the presence of thousands of spectators. As a French gift for the centennial of the American Revolution, it was ten years late.

The national monument, the Statue of Liberty, officially celebrated its centennial on October 28, 1986.

Statue as a cultural monument

The statue was placed on a granite pedestal inside Fort Wood, built for the War of 1812, whose walls are laid out in the shape of a star. The US Lighthouse Service was responsible for maintaining the statue until 1901. After 1901, this mission was entrusted to the War Department. By presidential proclamation of October 15, 1924, Fort Wood (and the statue on its grounds) was declared a national monument, the boundaries of which coincided with the boundaries of the fort.

On October 28, 1936, at the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of the statue, US President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Freedom and peace are living things. For them to continue to exist, each generation must protect them and put new life into them.”

Liberty Island

In 1933, maintenance of the national monument was transferred to the National Park Service. On September 7, 1937, the national monument was enlarged to cover all of Bedlow Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Memorial. In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to lead a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty. The restoration raised $87 million through a partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Corporation, which became the most successful public-private collaboration in American history. In 1984, at the beginning of work on its restoration, the Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 5, the restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to visitors during Liberty Weekend, celebrating her centennial.

Statue and security

The staircase to the torch was closed for safety reasons in 1916. In 1986, the statue was restored, and its damaged and corroded torch was moved to the main entrance and replaced with a new one, plated in 24-karat gold.

The statue, including the pedestal and base, was closed on October 29, 2011, the day after the statue's 125th anniversary, to allow for the installation of new elevators and stairs. Although the Statue of Liberty has been closed to the public, Liberty Island remains open to the public. Exactly one year after it was closed for repairs and the installation of a new complex escalator, on October 28, 2012, full access to the statue was opened up to the crown.

Images of the statue are widely used in symbolism regional organizations and US institutions. In New York State, her outline was on license plates. Vehicle between 1986 and 2000. The New York Liberty, a professional women's basketball team in the Women's National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference, uses the Statue's name in its name and its image in its logo, which associates the statue's flame with basketball. Liberty's Head has been featured on the alternate uniforms of the NHL's New York Rangers since 1997. The NCAA used a symbolic image of a statue for the 1996 Men's Basketball Finals logo. The emblem of the US Libertarian Party uses a stylized image of the torch of Liberty.

Reproductions

Hundreds of reproductions are exhibited in the most different parts peace. A copy, one-fourth the size of the original, given to the city of Paris by the American Society, is placed facing west, towards the main statue, on the Swan Island of the Seine. The nine-meter replica, which for many years adorned the top of the Liberty Warehouse building on 64th Street in Manhattan, is now on display on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum. The American Scouts, during the celebration of its fortieth anniversary in 1949-1952, donated about two hundred copies of pressed copper, 2.5 m high, to various American states and municipalities.

Notes

Statue of Liberty (in NYC). Lopatin V.V., Nechaeva I.V., Cheltsova L.K. Uppercase or lowercase? Orthographic dictionary. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - P. 423. - 512 p.
USIA. Portrait of the USA: The Statue of Liberty (inaccessible link - story) . Retrieved May 29, 2006. Archived June 30, 2004.
Liberty Island (island, New York, United States) (English). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
, pp. 7–9.
, pp. 7–8.

The Statue of Liberty, one of the most famous sculptures in the United States and the world, reopened on July 4, Independence Day, after repairs and work to clean up the aftermath of Atlantic Hurricane Sandy, which hit the country's coast last fall. The symbol of New York and the United States is a gift from the people of France for the centennial of the American Revolution in 1886.

This issue contains photographs that tell the story of the Statue of Liberty from its birth in Paris to the present day.

The French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to create the statue. It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model.

His first project failed

Studio in Paris, 1875.

By mutual agreement, America was to build the pedestal, and France was to create the statue and install it in the United States. However, there was a shortage of money on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, charitable donations, along with various entertainment events and a lottery, raised 2.25 million francs. In the United States, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing matches were held to raise funds.

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

Meanwhile, in France, the sculptor Bartholdi needed the help of an engineer to solve the design issues associated with the construction of such a giant copper sculpture. Gustave Eiffel (the future creator of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive steel support.

Workers creating a Statue in a Paris workshop, 1882.

The statue was completed by the French in July 1884. Here she stands near the workshop of the sculptor Bartholdi in Paris.

She was transported to New York on June 17, 1885, aboard the French frigate Isere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 parts and packed into 214 boxes. The location for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by an Act of Congress in 1877, was chosen by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of Bartholdi himself, on Bedloe's Island, where a star-shaped fort had stood since the beginning of the 19th century.

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.

New York, 1930. The Statue of Liberty is often called “the symbol of New York and the USA”, “the symbol of freedom and democracy”, “Lady Liberty”.

The ocean liner Queen Mary and the Statue of Liberty, June 1, 1936. A few numbers. The height from the ground to the top of the torch of the Statue of Liberty is 92.99 m, the height of the statue is 33.86 m, the height from the ground to the top of the pedestal is 46.94 m.

Bedlow Island, where the Statue of Liberty was installed, was a slum area. Congressmen asked for $1,000,000 to clear the area on the island. New York, March 5, 1948.

On September 7, 1937, the national monument was enlarged to cover all of Bedlow Island, which was renamed Liberty Island in 1956. Photo: Visitors looking out from the crown of the Statue, October 26, 1946.

In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan ordered the collection of money and restoration of the Statue of Liberty. $87 million was raised for restoration. On July 4, 1984, restoration began.

Restoration of the Statue of Liberty, 1984.

Let's take a look inside. The frame and various supporting structures are visible here, 1984.

Metal frame and spiral staircase inside the Statue, 1988.

Old torch of the Statue of Liberty.

This is a new torch and a view of Manhattan, 1985.

At the beginning of the restoration work, the Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 5, 1986, the restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public during Liberty Weekend celebrating her centennial.

The statue and island were closed from September 11, 2001 to August 3, 2004 due to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan, October 26, 2006. By the way, there are Statues of Liberty in other cities. Most copies of the Statue of Liberty are located in its homeland - France. There are four of them in Paris.

After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the Statue and its crown were reopened for tours only on July 4, 2009. Visitors to Liberty Island and the Statue are still subject to restrictions, including Personal inspection, similar to security screening at airports.

The Statue of Liberty and the Space Shuttle Discovery flying on the back of the mighty, specially equipped Boeing 747 airliner, April 27, 2012.

In October 2012, the Atlantic hurricane Sandy made a devastating march across the North American continent, one way or another paralyzing the life of 13 states. The statue itself, over 33 meters high, withstood the hurricane, the consequences of which in New York have not yet been completely eliminated, but Liberty Island survived severe floods and disruptions to the power supply system. Tens of millions of dollars were spent on restoration work.

Following restoration work, the Statue of Liberty reopened to the general public on July 4, 2013.