The Statue Of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France, conceived and designed as a monument to a great international friendship. But its significance has broadened and for many people throughout the world it has become the recognized symbol of liberty.

Historical Notes:

Construction of the Statue began in France in the year 1875, by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. The final completion date of the individual sections was in June of 1884, and it stood in Paris until it was dismantled in early 1885 for shipping to the US. Engineering of the structure's assembly was done by Gustave Eiffel.

The French frigate "Isere" transported the Statue from France to the United States. In transit the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates.
(The pedestal was designed by architect Richard M.Hunt in 1877. Construction of the pedestal began in 1883 and was completed in 1884, and final assembly of the statue & pedestal was completed in 1886)
On October 28, 1886 President Grover Cleveland accepted The Statue on behalf of the United States and said in part: "we will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected".

Physical Details:

There are 25 windows in the crown which comprise the jewels beneath the seven rays of the diadem. The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand reads, in Roman numerals, "July 4, 1776" the day of America's independence from Britain.

                                        Standard

Height from base to torch              151' 1"    

Foundation of pedestal to torch        305' 1"    

Heel to top of head                    111' 1"    

Length of hand                         16' 5"    

index finger                           8' 0"      

Circumference at second joint          3' 6"      

Size of fingernail                     13"x10"   

Head from chin to cranium              17' 3"      

Head thickness from ear to ear         10' 0"      

Distance across the eye                2' 6"       

Length of nose                         4' 6"      

Right arm length                       42' 0"     

Right arm greatest thickness           12' 0"      

Thickness of waist                     35' 0"     

Width of mouth                         3' 0"       

Tablet, length                         23' 7"      

Tablet, width                          13' 7"      

Tablet, thickness                      2' 0"       

Height of granite pedestal             89' 0"     

Height of foundation                   65' 0"     




Weight of copper used in Statue - 200,000 pounds (100 tons)

Weight of steel used in Statue -  250,000 pounds (125 tons)

Total weight used in Statue -     450,000 pounds (225 tons)

Copper sheeting of Statue is 3/32 of an inch thick (2.37mm)