""Liberty Enlightening the World"" Statue of Liberty National Monument by nicolettart

Statue of Liberty National Monument Travel Guide: 18 reviews and 86 photos

Ferry Baby - Statue of Liberty National Monument

The Statue's Official Title

Both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island belong to New Jersey, I am proud to say!!

It's a very nice trip to take if you are visiting NY or NJ, and in the summer taking a ferry ride in New York Harbor sure does beat the Heat!

Want to Know the Facts?

Baby and Me

Date Construction of the Statue began in France: 1875

Sculptor: Auguste Bartholdi
Bartholdi's Military Rank: Quartermaster to a force of five thousand soldiers
Bartholdi's Commander at Autun during Franco-Prussian War in 1870: Giuseppe Garibaldi (FS1986)

Structural Engineer: Gustave Eiffel
Method of Fabrication: Repousse Process

Statue completed in Paris: June 1884
Statue presented to America by the people of France: July 4, 1884
Statue dismantled and shipped to US: Early 1885

1885 Transport Ship: French frigate "Isere"
Number of individual pieces shipped to US: 350
Number of crates required: 214
Location of Statue: Liberty Island, formerly Bedloe's Island and Fort Wood (fortress for protection
of New York Harbor 1811)

Architect of the pedestal: Richard Morris Hunt (in 1877)
Champion Fundraiser for the Pedestal: Joseph Pulitzer,
Hungarian immigrant, Publisher of the New York World.
Treaurer of The American Committee for the Statue of Liberty:
Henry A. Spaulding

Date the cornerstone was laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor: 5 August 1884
Source of Granite for the Pedestal: Leete's Island, Connecticut

Date of Final Assembly of statue & pedestal: 1886
Official accepting Statue on behalf of US: President Grover Cleveland
Date of Acceptance by President: October 28, 1886
Part of Acceptance Statement by President Cleveland:
"We will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected".
Date designated a National Monument: October 15, 1924

Wind speed at which Statue sways 3 inches (7.62 cm): 50 mph
Torch sway in 50 mph wind: 5 inches (12.7 cm).
Number of windows in the crown: 25
Number of spikes in the crown: Seven rays of the diadem
(7 oceans of the World)
Hand with which Statue holds tablet: Left
Inscription on tablet: "July 4, 1776" (in Roman numerals)
Day of America's Independence from Britain: July 4, 1776

Height from base to torch (Bartholdi's design): 151' 1" (46.50m)
Height from base to torch (1984 Survey): 152' 2" (46.84m)
Foundation of pedestal to torch (Bartholdi's design): 305' 1" (92.99m)
Foundation of pedestal to torch (1984 Survey): 306' 8" (93.47m)
Heel to top of head: 111' 1" (33.86m)
Length of hand: 16' 5" (5.00m)

Index finger: 8' 0" (2.44m)
Circumference at second joint: 3' 6" (1.07m)
Size of fingernail: 13"x10" (33x25.4cm)
Weight of fingernail: About 3.5 pounds. (1.5 kg)
Head from chin to cranium: 17' 3" (5.26m)
Head thickness from ear to ear: 10' 0" (3.05m)
Distance across the eye: 2' 6" ( .76m)

Length of nose: 4' 6" ( l.48m)
Right arm length: 42' 0" (12.80m)
Right arm greatest thickness: 12' 0" (3.66m)
Thickness of waist: 35' 0" (10.67m)
Width of mouth: 3' 0" (.91m)

Tablet, length: 23' 7" (7.19m)
Tablet, width: 13' 7" (4.14m)
Tablet, thickness: 2' 0" (.61m)
Height of granite pedestal: 89' 0" (27.13m)
Height of foundation: 65' 0" (19.81m)

Weight of copper used in Statue: 179,200 pounds (81,300 kilograms)
Weight of steel used in Statue: 250,000 pounds (113,400 kilograms)
Total weight of Statue: 450,000 pounds (225 tons)
Thickness of Copper sheeting: 3/32 inch (2.37mm)

Scaffolding Contractor for 1984-1986 Renovation:
Universal Builders Supply
Architect for 1984-1986 Renovation:
Swanke Hayden Connell Architects
Window Subcontractor for 1984-1986 Renovation:
TRACO - Three Rivers Aluminum Company

Approximate fabric in Liberty's dress: 4,000 sq.yds.
Bartholdi intentionally clothed Liberty as a classical Roman diety. She wears a palla, a cloak that is fastened on her left shoulder by a clasp. Underneath is a stola, which falls in many folds to her feet. (BM2000)

Length of sandal: 25'-0"
US Women's Shoe Size based on standard fomula: 879
(Length (inches)= 7.333 + ({[US Women's Size]-1}/3)

info from the Statue's website at Statue of Liberty

Last visit to Statue of Liberty National Monument: Jul 2003
Intro Updated Aug 11, 2003
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Reviews (4)

Lady Liberty - Statue of Liberty National Monument

The New Colossus Things to Do (1)

This is the title of the famous poem by Emma Lazarus, which is graven on a tablet within the pedestal on which the... more travel advice

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NY and NJ Ferries Transportation (1)

You can get to Liberty Island from either New York or New Jersey side. In New Jersey, you can go the Liberty State Park... more travel advice

Statue of Liberty - Statue of Liberty National Monument

Access to the Monument Favorites (1)

It is monumental!!! The statue is scheduled to open August 3, 2004, with special tours scheduled. Since September 11... more travel advice

Green Foam Crown Tourist Traps (1)

If you must, buy one of those foam Statue of Liberty crowns--but you will definitely be marked as a tourist! I saw many... more travel advice

Comments (13)

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jadesmith Oct 26, 2010 at 1:23 AM

Statue of liberty is an elegant attraction, a must see and will leave you mesmerized with its elegance and vivid facts. historicaltravelguide.com/th...
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Pawtuxet Jun 4, 2006 at 4:06 AM

Just stopping back to add some votes for this great attraction. Love the statue, the ferry, Ellis Island....all great.
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Braveheart.southafrr Feb 25, 2005 at 1:44 PM

Very Interesting Reading Nicoletta i hope to be on top of her one day soon lol ................Kenneth
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olja1234 Jan 30, 2005 at 11:22 AM

A page with lots of interesting informations. Thanks.
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ATXtraveler Jun 29, 2004 at 10:53 AM

Glad to hear this is actually open again! Great pictures, and facts about the size of the sandal!
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shrimp56 Apr 2, 2004 at 5:30 AM

Read in the Chicago Tribune that they were going to reopen the monument, except for the crown.
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dr.firas Oct 11, 2003 at 9:33 AM

The statue of Liberty is a gorgeous monument where ever! but Sophia in the opening intro photo is soooooooo sweet :-)
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piccolina Oct 1, 2003 at 8:19 AM

Who dont' know about it?...nice page:-)
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hunterV Sep 21, 2003 at 12:18 PM

It must be very exciting to visit the Statue...
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Helga67 Sep 10, 2003 at 5:43 AM

This is one of the things every tourist wants to see when coming to NY, me too! Great info