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Statue of Liberty
Illustration: The Statue of Liberty at Twilight.
 The Statue, originally titled
"Liberty Enlightning the World," is one of the worlds best known and beloved landmarks. It stands in
New Youk harbor, where it has welcomed more than 17 million immigrants arriving on American shores.
Designed and executed by the French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the 150-foot-high copper-covered statue
was a gift to the american people from the French in commemoration of this country's 100th birthday. Bartholdi
chose as his symbol the figure of Lady Liberty holding the tourchof freedom aloft in one hand and with the other
supporting an open volume inscribed "July 4, 1776." At the base of the statue appear the words from a
poem by Emma Lazarus, herself an immigrant: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe
free...
Work on the statue began in Paris in 1875, and it was shipped to the U.S. in sections in 1885. Reassembled on Bedloe's
Island, now called Liberty Island, the work was unvailed on October 26, 1886. by President Grover Cleveland and
Bartholdi. Lady Liberty was completely refurbished in 1986 in time for her own centenial birthday.
DID YOU KNOW....In 1924, Congress designated the Statue of Liberty and nearby Ellis Island, where thousands of
immigrants first landed, as national monuments.
If you would like to know more about the Statue of Liberty visit this website.
This site and its contents, text and graphics unless otherwise posted are copyright (c) 2002
G. Stevens/Design Unlimited - All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be distributed, reproduced or transmitted or posted
in any manner without the express written permission of the authors.
A Special Thanks To Groiler Books.
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