The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a famous statue in New York Harbor. She holds a torch high in one hand and a book in the other. The statue stands for freedom and friendship. She greets ships coming into the city.

A Gift from France

France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886. It was a gift to celebrate 100 years of American freedom. A French artist named Frederic Bartholdi designed the statue. A famous engineer named Gustave Eiffel built the inside frame.

A shiny silver plate showing a glowing sun from ancient Rome.
A shiny silver plate showing a glowing sun from ancient Rome. (Unknown artistUnknown artist / Wikimedia Commons)

How Big Is She?

The statue is very tall, standing over 305 feet from the ground to the tip of the torch. Her face alone is more than 8 feet long. She is made of copper, which turned green over many years. Visitors can climb all the way up to her crown.

Fun Facts

  • The statue's full name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
  • The seven spikes on her crown stand for the seven seas and continents.
  • She wears a size 879 shoe.

Did You Know?

The statue was shipped from France in 350 pieces inside 214 wooden crates.