The Statue of Liberty is a massive neoclassical sculpture built on an island in NYC. Ironically, one of the most significant American landmarks was a gift from the French. In 1865, French jurist and activist Edouard de Laboulaye put forth the idea of creating a monument for the United States. It wasn’t until ten years later that the idea was put into action. French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was tasked with designing a monument. Initially, the monument was meant to be finished by 1876 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. However, the monument, which was built by Gustave Eiffel, was only finished ten years later in 1886. The monument, now fondly known as the Statue of Liberty, has an official name of “Liberty Enlightening the World.” While the statue was designed by a Frenchman, the United States was responsible for building the pedestal. The Statue of Liberty was a joint effort between the two countries, meant to symbolize unity.

About The Statue of Liberty

The actual monument is a representation of the Roman liberty goddess, Libertas. The statue features a robed woman lifting a torch towards the sky in her right hand. There is a tablet in her left hand inscribed with numerals JULY IV MDCCLXXVI to commemorate July 4, 1776 when the American Declaration of Independence was signed. At Lady Liberty’s feet lies a broken chain, symbolizing the way that Americans broke free from British rule. The Statue of Liberty was built in France and upon its completion in 1884, it was shipped to the United States on the French warship “Isere.” In order to be shipped properly, the Statue of Liberty was separated into 350 pieces and placed in 214 separate crates. When the pieces of the statue arrived in the United States in 1885, it took four months to be rebuilt on the pedestal. It wasn’t until October 28, 1886 that President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty to New York City as a late centennial gift.

History

Since the late 19th century, Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is placed, has become a true NYC icon. Liberty Island holds the Statue of Liberty, as well as Fort Wood. Both Fort Wood and the Statue of Liberty were declared a national monument in 1924. By 1933, the Statue of Liberty was under the care of the National Park Service. When mass immigration to the United States began at the tail end of the 19th century, the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of freedom for incoming immigrants.

While the Statue of Liberty still remains mostly original, it has had its fair share of restorations and renovations. From 1984-1986, the monument underwent $87 million worth of renovations. The renovations were conducted by engineers, architects, and conservators from both France and the United States. The major restorations consisted of replacing iron bars with stainless steel bars and replacing the entire flame and upper part of Lady Liberty’s torch. However, the torch replacement was an exact replica of the original.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty

Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City. It’s no wonder why! Who wouldn’t want to see such a magnificent, 151 foot tall, 450,000 pound United States monument? Lady Liberty, as well as Liberty Island, has a rich historical background and is enchanting to visit in person. Tourists have been able to visit the Statue of Liberty for decades! If you’re a fan of NYC travel tips or you’re planning your first visit to NYC, here are some details on how to get to the Statue of Liberty and what to do when you get there:

How to get there

here is only one way to get to the Statue of Liberty in NYC: with a ferry. If you’re leaving from NYC, you need to catch the ferry at Battery Park. Tip: If all of the departure dates are filled up for the Battery Park ferry, try driving out to Liberty State Park in Jersey City instead! There is a ferry at that location to the Statue of Liberty, as well, and it isn’t far from NYC.

The ferry ride from either NYC or Jersey City to Liberty Island takes about 15-20 minutes. During the brief ride, be sure to take some pictures of the gorgeous NYC skyline!

Cost

Tickets to go to the Statue of Liberty cost $25.50 for adults, $16.00 for children between the ages of 4 and 12, and $21.00 for senior citizens over the age of 62. This basic ticket only includes admission to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum located on Ellis Island. If you’d like to visit the Statue of Liberty pedestal or crown, you will need to buy special tickets. To visit both the Statue of Liberty and its pedestal, the price is the same. However, you will need to pay a few dollars more to visit the Statue of Liberty crown.

While you can purchase the tickets at the ferry station, it’s much more convenient to buy the tickets online. This way, you can skip all of the long lines at the ferry!

What to do on Liberty Island

The most important thing to do in Liberty Island is to visit the Statue of Liberty! When you purchase a ferry ticket, you are able to go to the monument and give yourself a self-guided tour. There are even audio tours available if you’d like an enhanced experience! However, Liberty Island has so much more to offer. While the Statue of Liberty may be the most iconic landmark on the island, you should see as much of the island as you can. Here are a few other things to do:

• Visit the Information Center: The Information Center on Liberty Island can answer any and all questions you may have about the Statue of Liberty. If you’re a history buff, you’ll definitely want to stop by!
• Take a Park Ranger guided tour: If you want to know more historical context about the monument as well as take a walking tour, you should attend one of these free tours. These guided tours are just over 30 minutes long and are led by an experienced and knowledgeable Park Ranger.
• Visit The Liberty Island Museum: The Liberty Island Museum details the history of the Statue of Liberty from when it was a concept in Edouard de Laboulaye’s mind to its construction and interpretation. It shows how Lady Liberty’s symbolism has changed over the years and also has several artifacts on display.

There’s no denying that the Statue of Liberty is a fascinating monument. It had turbulent beginnings and took a decade later to finish than originally anticipated. It was a complex joint project between France and the United States. It has undergone millions of dollars worth of renovations in its 122 years of existence. It went from a symbolism of the relationship between France and the United States to being a symbol of freedom for incoming immigrants in the 20th century. Its multifaceted history, deep symbolism, and monumental size are what make it an ideal tourist destination in NYC. If you’re planning a trip to The Big Apple anytime soon, be sure not to miss the Statue of Liberty. While it can be seen from Brooklyn or from a New York City Harbour cruise, nothing compares to stepping foot on Liberty Island and seeing it on person. When you do visit Liberty Island, don’t forget to see all that it has to offer! Lady Liberty has been an American icon, symbol of freedom, and major NYC tourist destination for over a century- and that won’t be changing anytime soon.