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| 2006 Liberty Geoffrey W. Sutton |
I come back to the Statue of Liberty once in awhile. Like other immigrants from Europe, Lady Liberty is one of the first things we see. The above photo was from a visit with my son and daughter-in-law in 2006.
In 2016, my wife and I completed a "re-enactment" cruise. We visited my family in England then returned to the US on the Queen Mary II. The following photo is from our early morning arrival into New York Harbor.
The statue is on Liberty Island, not to be confused with nearby Ellis Island.
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| 2016 Liberty by G Sutton |
The torch is amazing. I hope it always shines brightly for immigrants. The original torch was removed in 1984 and is in the lobby.
By The Way, the tablet in her hand has the date of American Independence July 4, 1976, but in Roman Numerals so, IV, MDCCLXXVI)
It was hard to get a great close-up on a misty day, but here is what I have.
By The Way, the tablet in her hand has the date of American Independence July 4, 1976, but in Roman Numerals so, IV, MDCCLXXVI)
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| Liberty torch 2006 Geoffrey W. Sutton |
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| Liberty Close up 2006 Geoffrey W. Sutton |
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| That first exciting moment when we saw Liberty |
About the Statue
"The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It was designated as a National Monument in 1924. Employees of the National Park Service have been caring for the colossal copper statue since 1933." (NPS Link)
The statue is made of copper- about the thickness of 2 US cents.
The green color comes from oxidized copper.
It is 305 feet and 1 inch tall- ground to flame tip
The torch has been closed since July 30 1916 but the crown can be visited via a spiral staircase.
Fascinating Facts about the Statue of Liberty
Origin and early history
Originally for Egypt: Before proposing a monument for the U.S., sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed a similar, torch-bearing statue of a robed peasant woman for the Suez Canal in Egypt. That project fell through due to cost.
Modeled after a mother: The face of the statue may have been modeled after the sculptor's own mother, Charlotte Bartholdi.
Symbolizing abolition: The statue's original purpose was to celebrate the abolition of slavery in the United States and represent freedom from oppression, a message Bartholdi hoped would inspire democracy in his native France. The broken shackles and chain at Lady Liberty's feet subtly reinforce this meaning.
Built for the wind: The iron framework supporting the statue's copper "skin" was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, creator of the Eiffel Tower. His innovative design allows the statue to sway up to 3 inches in a 50 mph wind, while the torch can move 5 inches.
Paid for by the people: While the statue was a gift from the people of France, Americans were responsible for funding the pedestal. The effort was famously rescued by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who promised to print the names of every donor, no matter how small the contribution. The campaign raised over $100,000 from more than 160,000 donors in just five months.
A tale of two coasts: During the statue's construction, fundraising struggles nearly led to the monument being moved. Both Philadelphia and Boston made plays to acquire the statue before New Yorkers came together to fund the pedestal.
Design and Symbolism
It's a lighthouse (but a bad one): From 1886 until 1902, the Statue of Liberty officially functioned as a lighthouse, but its light was too dim for sailors to navigate by.
It has a sister: France gifted a smaller bronze replica of the statue to the U.S. in 2021. The 9-foot-tall replica is on a 10-year loan and currently resides in Washington, D.C..
A change of hue: The statue was originally a dull copper color, similar to a penny. The green patina that covers it today is the result of the natural oxidation of the copper over many years and now protects it from further corrosion.
A talking statue?: Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph, once proposed placing a giant record player inside the statue so it could "speak" to arriving visitors. The idea was ultimately rejected.
Protected from lightning: Lady Liberty is struck by lightning up to 600 times a year. Its copper shell and grounded base act as a large lightning rod.
Torch closed for a century: The torch was closed to the public in 1916 after a massive explosion caused by German agents damaged the statue's arm. The explosion, known as the Black Tom Incident, occurred at a munitions depot on a nearby island.
The crown's seven rays: The seven spikes on the crown represent the seven continents and seven seas, symbolizing the universal concept of liberty.
Travel Notes
Check the website for current information:https://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
In 2020, visitors arrive by Statue Cruises ferry and hours are 9:30 to 3:30.
There is no fee to enter the statue but you have to buy a ferry ticket.
Advanced reservations are needed to visit the crown and the pedestal.
You could bring or purchase food and drink- check the website for the latest.
See the website above for accessibility information.
A New Jersey address: While most associate the statue with New York, the island it sits on is technically an exclave of New York state, completely surrounded by New Jersey.
Resources
National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/stli/faqs.htm
CNN facts: https://www.cnn.com/us/statue-of-liberty-fast-facts#:~:text=The%20Statue%20of%20Liberty%20was,and%20continents%20of%20the%20world.&text=The%20total%20weight%20of%20copper,million%20pounds%20(27%2C000%20tons).&text=Visitors%20undergo%20airport%2Dstyle%20security,visitor%20ferries%20to%20Liberty%20Island.
1916 Bombing: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/black-tom-1916-bombing#:~:text=It%20was%20still%20dark%20in,offices)%20and%20lack%20of%20jurisdiction.
HistoryFacts: https://historyfacts.com/us-history/fact/thomas-edison-wanted-the-statue-of-liberty-to-talk/
Post Author
Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals.
His website is https://suttong.com You can find Dr. Sutton's books on AMAZON and GOOGLE. Many publications are free to download at ResearchGate and Academia
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