Its magnificence was indescribable, and its magnitude was inconceivable. She felt overwhelmed in the presence of its greatness.
Mona Rodriguez
Hi! Have you ever wondered about the Statue of Liberty? Why is it green? What is the quote on it? How tall is the Statue and what is its history? If no, now might be a good time to know more about all these funny facts, because the anniversary of its dedication is celebrated today. The ceremony of dedication the Statue of Liberty was held on October 28th, 1886.
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
These words by Emma Lazarus come from her sonnet, New Colossus. A young poetess from New York City wrote her poetical masterpiece for a fundraiser auction in order to help in raising money for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. These lines are considered the most recognizable of those associated with the monument. A tablet with the graven sonnet’s text was mounted inside the pedestal of the Statue after the death of Emma Lazarus.
Many people are particularly interested in the question of the color of the Statue of Liberty, i.e. why it is green. Everybody knows that the monument was made of an iron frame with a sheet of copper over it. The true color of the Statue of Liberty was respectively a red-brown one. But because of oxidation one could say about patinas which form a protective layer to copper. The color of this layer turned to blue-green as the years’ progress. So that is why because the actual color of the Statue of Liberty is known as green.
As we know, the full name of the monument is The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. It is believed to be a symbol of democracy and freedom all over the world. For the many immigrants the Statue of Liberty is the first image they see on the new land. A gift from French government, the monument was designed by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, a young sculptor. His mother has served as a model for him. The statue’s framework was made by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, known as the engineer projected and constructed the Eiffel Tower. The Statue is actually over 151 feet from the ground to the top of her torch. The crown of the monument has seven spikes, and you have to climb 354 stairs to reach the top. And, of course, you should get there in order to have one of the best views of New York City. About 250 people per day, among them Russian ladies, visit this stately and imposing monument to observe the city and its surroundings and to enjoy the view.