Statue of Liberty

A gift from France that arrived in 350 pieces

The Statue of Liberty is a 46-metre copper woman that France gave to the USA as a sign of friendship. She was made in Paris, split into 350 pieces, shipped over and assembled in 4 months. At first the statue was copper (brown) coloured — in 30 years the air turned her green! Her crown has 7 rays — for 7 continents and 7 seas. The iron skeleton inside was made by Eiffel, who built the Eiffel Tower.

'Liberty Enlightening the World' (1886) — sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, engineer Gustave Eiffel (the internal iron framework was cutting-edge technology); a gift from the people of France for the centenary of US independence. Height 46 m (93 m with pedestal), 31 t of copper (2.4 mm thick — two coins), 125 t of steel. She represents the Roman goddess of liberty, Libertas; a broken chain at her feet (freedom from slavery) and a tablet reading 'JULY IV MDCCLXXVI'. The copper oxidised, forming a green patina by 1920 that protects the metal. Between 1892 and 1954 she was the first sight for 12 million immigrants arriving via Ellis Island — a symbol of hope; Emma Lazarus's poem 'Give me your tired, your poor' is on the pedestal. UNESCO (1984). 354 steps lead to the crown; 4 million visitors a year.

Fun facts

• The statue's copper is only 2.4 mm thick — two coins.
• In 30 years the statue turned from brown to green — the air 'rusted' the copper.
• The skeleton inside was made by the man who built the Eiffel Tower.