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Statue of Liberty

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
The Statue of Liberty seen from the front, standing tall on its pedestal and base.

What is the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty is a huge statue of a woman wearing long robes and a crown. She stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, which is part of New York City. The statue is covered in copper.

A Gift from France

The people of France gave the statue to the United States. The French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed it, and Gustave Eiffel built its metal frame. The statue was finished and shared with everyone on October 28, 1886.

The woman in the statue is inspired by Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She holds a torch up high with her right hand. In her left hand, she holds a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence.

A Friend to Visitors

Many people see the statue as a sign of welcome. It was a happy sight for people arriving by sea, including those who came to Ellis Island nearby. Today, the statue is cared for by the National Park Service as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

Visitors can take a ferry to Liberty Island and see the statue up close. It is one of the most famous sights in the United States!

Quiz time!

3 questions about Statue of Liberty

Question 1 of 3

What is the Statue of Liberty covered in?

Pictures

A silver leaf disc from ancient Rome, made in the 3rd century AD and dedicated to Sol Invictus, the 'Unconquered Sun' god. It was found at Pessinus in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and is now in the British Museum.
The Lion of Belfort, a huge carved red sandstone lion sculpture on a hillside in the French city of Belfort, honoring the town's brave defense long ago.
A painted fresco in the U.S. Capitol Building, made by artist Constantino Brumidi in the 1850s, showing allegorical figures who honor George Washington.
The Statue of Freedom, a bronze statue that stands on top of the dome of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The Statue of Liberty seen from behind, showing one of her feet as she stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
The front page of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper from June 1885, showing the Statue of Liberty before its inauguration in New York.
Edward Moran's painting of the 1886 unveiling of the Statue of Liberty, with crowds gathered in boats near Bedloe's Island to celebrate the gift from France.
An invitation to the 1886 dedication ceremony for the Statue of Liberty, now displayed in the Statue of Liberty Museum.
A 1917 American poster encouraging people to buy government bonds, showing immigrants on a ship sailing past the Statue of Liberty.
A view of Black Tom Island, seen from nearby Liberty Island in June 2024.
The arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty on display in Madison Square Park in New York City, around 1876 to 1882. Visitors could pay to climb up to the torch balcony to help raise money for the rest of the statue.
An 1885 drawing of the pedestal being built for the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor, published in Harper's Weekly.
A stained glass window called "Liberty Enlightening the World," first installed in the New York World Building and now displayed in Pulitzer Hall at Columbia University.
Tourists aboard a Circle Line ferry arriving at Liberty Island, June 1973
As viewed from the ground on Liberty Island
Replica on Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, Japan, with the Rainbow Bridge in the background
Selection of stamps depicting Statue of Liberty: 1922, 1940, 1947, 1954, 1961 issues
2007 $1 Washington coin reverse.

Keep exploring

Liberty Island
New York City
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
New York Harbor
Copper

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Statue of Liberty, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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