When talking about New York, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the Statue of Liberty, an emblematic monument that has a beautiful history and that saw millions of immigrants arrive in the United States.
But there are several curious and interesting facts behind its history that we will describe below.
1. Statue of Liberty is not her real name
The full name of the most famous monument in New York - and possibly in the United States - is "Liberty Enlightening the World."
2. It is a gift from France to the United States
The purpose was to give a gift as a gesture of friendship between the two countries and to commemorate the centenary of the Independence of the United States from England.
3. The head of the statue was exhibited in Paris
It was held during the World's Fair in Paris, held from May 1 to November 10, 1878.
4. Represents a Roman deity
In Roman mythology, Libertas She was the Goddess of Freedom and was the inspiration in the creation of this lady dressed in a tunic to represent freedom over oppression; that is why it is also known as Lady Liberty.
5. In his hands he holds a torch and a tspeak
The torch he holds in his right hand has been restored on more than one occasion and was closed to the public in 1916; the one she currently wears is the one most attached to the original design.
In his left hand he holds a board 60 centimeters wide by 35 centimeters long and has the date of the United States declaration of Independence engraved with Roman numerals: JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776).
6. Measurements of the Statue of Liberty
From the ground to the tip of the torch, the Statue of Liberty is 95 meters high and weighs 205 tons; He has a 10.70 meter waist and fits from 879.
7. How to get to the crown?
You have to climb 354 steps to get to the crown of the statue.
8. The windows of the crown
If you want to admire New York Bay in all its splendor from above, you can do so through the 25 windows that the crown has.
9. It is one of the most visited monuments in the world
During 2016 the Statue of Liberty received 4.5 million visitors, while the Eiffel Tower in Paris received 7 million and the London Eye 3.75 million people.
10. The crown peaks and their meaning
The crown has seven peaks that represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world that indicate the universal concept of freedom.
11. The color of the statue
The green color of the statue is due to the oxidation of copper, the metal with which it is coated on the outside. Although patina (green coating) is a sign of damage, it also acts as a form of protection.
12. The father of the Statue of Liberty was French
The idea of creating the monument came from the jurist and politician Edouard Laboulaye; while the sculptor Frèderic Auguste Bertholdi was commissioned to design it.
13. Its creation was to commemorate freedom
At first, Edouard Laboulaye had the idea of creating a monument that would unite the ties of friendship between France and the United States, but at the same time to celebrate the triumph of the American Revolution and the Abolition of Slavery.
14. They wanted it to inspire other countries
Edouard Laboulaye also hoped that the creation of this monument would inspire his own people and fight for their democracy against the repressive monarchy of Napoleon III, who was Emperor of the French.
15. Who designed your interior?
Four iron columns that form a metal arch support the copper skin and make up the interior structure of the statue, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the famous tower that bears his name in Paris.
16. What tools were used to form the exterior part?
300 different types of hammers were necessary to form the copper structure.
17. The face of the statue: is it a woman?
Although not fully confirmed, it is said that to design the face of the statue, Auguste Bertholdi was inspired by the face of his mother Charlotte.
18. The torch that holds the statue is not the original
The torch that holds the statue replaces the original since 1984 and this was covered with a layer of 24 carat gold.
19. The feet of the statue are surrounded by chains
The Statue of Liberty is standing on a broken shackle with chains and her right foot is raised, representing her moving away from oppression and slavery, but this can only be seen from a helicopter.
20. African Americans perceived the statue as a symbol of irony
Despite the fact that the statue was created to represent positive aspects such as freedom, American Independence, and the abolition of slavery, African Americans viewed the statue as a symbol of irony in America.
The ironic perception is due to the fact that discrimination and racism still persist in the world's societies, especially the American one.
21. The Statue of Liberty was also a symbol for immigrants
During the second half of the 19th century, more than nine million immigrants arrived in New York and the first sight they had was the Statue of Liberty.
22. The Statue of Liberty has also acted in cinema
One of the most famous appearances he's ever had Lady liberty in the cinema it was during the movie «Planet of the Apes», where it appears half buried in the sand.
23. In some movies it appears destroyed
In the futuristic films "Independence Day" and "The Day After Tomorrow", the statue is completely destroyed.
24. Who paid for the creation of the statue?
The contributions of the French and Americans were what managed to finance the creation of the statue.
In 1885 the newspaper Mundo (of New York) announced that they had raised $ 102,000 and that 80% of that amount had been in amounts less than one dollar.
25. Some groups proposed their relocation
Groups from Philadelphia and Boston offered to pay the full cost of the statue in exchange for it being relocated to one of those cities.
26. At one time it was the tallest structure
When it was built in 1886, it was the tallest iron structure in the world.
27. It is a World Heritage Site
In 1984 UNESCO declared Lady liberty Cultural heritage of Humanity.
28. Has wind resistance
In the face of strong wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour that the Statue of Liberty has sometimes faced, it has swayed up to 3 inches and the torch 5 inches.
29. Has received electric shocks from lightning
Since its construction, the Statue of Liberty is believed to have been struck by approximately 600 lightning bolts.
A photographer managed to capture the image at the exact moment for the first time in 2010.
30. They have used her to commit suicide
Two people have committed suicide by jumping from the statue: one in 1929 and one in 1932. Some others also jumped from on high, but survived.
31. It has been the inspiration of poets
The title of "The New Colossus" is the poem by the American writer Emma Lazarus, in 1883, highlighting the monument as the first vision that immigrants had when they arrived in America.
"The New Colossus" was engraved on a bronze plate in 1903 and has been on the pedestal ever since.
32. It is located on the Island of Liberty
The island on which the statue is erected was previously known as "Bedloe Island", but as of 1956 it is known as the Island of Liberty.
33. There are more Statues of Liberty
There are several replicas of the statue in different cities of the world, although in smaller size; one in Paris, on an islet in the Seine River, and another in Las Vegas (Nevada), in the United States.
34. It is present in American Pop Art
As part of his Pop Art collection in the 1960s, artist Andy Warhol painted the Statue of Liberty and the works are estimated to be worth more than $ 35 million.
35. He announced the end of World War II
In 1944, the crown lights flashed on: "dot dot dot dash", which in Morse code means the "V" for victory in Europe.
36. In its beginnings it functioned as a lighthouse
For 16 years (from 1886 to 1902), the statue guided the sailors by means of the light that could be distinguished 40 kilometers away.
37. Your anniversary is celebrated in October
In October 2018 the Statue of Liberty will be celebrating its 133 years.
38. Has participated in comics
In the famous comic of Miss america, this heroine obtained her powers through the Statue of Liberty.
39. After September 11, 2001 it was closed
After the terrorist attacks in the United States, on September 11, 2001, access to the statue was closed.
In 2004 access to the pedestal was reopened and, in 2009, to the crown; but only in small groups of people.
40. A hurricane also caused its closure
In 2012 Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the United States with winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour, causing extensive damage and a large number of deaths; as well as floods in New York. For this reason, the statue was temporarily closed.
41. The statue was damaged in the First World War
Due to an act of sabotage by the Germans, on July 30, 1916, an explosion in New Jersey caused damage to the Statue of Liberty, mainly the torch, so it was replaced.
42. Previously you could climb up to the torch
After the damage it suffered in 1916, repair costs reached $ 100,000 and the stairway that gave access to the torch was closed for safety reasons and has remained that way ever since.
43. The only access allowed to the island is by ferry
No boat or ship can dock on Liberty Island or Ellis Island; the only access is by ferry.
44. The Statue of Liberty is also an immigrant
Although it was a gift to the United States, the parts of the monument were manufactured in Paris, which were packed in 214 boxes and transported by the French ship Isére on an eventful journey across the ocean, as the strong winds almost caused its wreck.
45. The Statue of Liberty is federal property
Although closer to New Jersey, Liberty Island is federal property within the state of New York.
46. The head is not in its place
In 1982 it was discovered that the head was positioned 60 centimeters outside the center of the structure.
47. His image circulates everywhere
Two images of the torch appear on a $ 10 bill.
48. His skin is very thin
Although it seems strange, the layers of copper that give it shape are only 2 millimeters thick, because its internal structure is so strong that it was not necessary to make the plates so thick.
49. Tomás Alba Edison wanted me to speak
The famous inventor of the electric light bulb presented a project in 1878 to place a disk inside the statue to make speeches and be heard throughout Manhattan, but the idea did not progress.
50. It had a very high cost
The cost of the construction of the statue, including the pedestal, was 500 thousand dollars, which today would be equivalent to 10 million dollars.
These are some curious facts behind the Statue of Liberty. Dare to discover them for yourself!
See also:
- Statue of Liberty: What to See, How to Get There, Hours, Prices and More ...
- 27 Things To See And Do In New York For Free
- 20 Things To See And Do In Alsace (France)
