Places & Landmarks
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a copper monument on Liberty Island, presented by France and dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886.
The Statue of Liberty is a monumental copper figure standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Its official name is Liberty Enlightening the World. Created by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it was presented as a gift of friendship from France to the United States and dedicated on October 28, 1886.
The statue raises a torch in its right hand and holds a tablet dated July 4, 1776, in its left. Broken shackles and chains appear near its feet. The copper exterior gradually developed its green patina through chemical reactions with the surrounding environment.
Quick facts
- The statue stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
- Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the figure.
- It was constructed in France, shipped in pieces to New York, and reassembled on its pedestal.
- The monument was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
- The tablet in the statue's left arm bears the date July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals.
A surprising fact
The statue's copper skin is only about 3/32 of an inch, or roughly 2.5 millimeters, thick.