Some Truths About “Lady Liberty”
The statue of Liberty is one of the world’s most famous and recognizable landmarks. For many people in the United States and beyond, she serves as an unwavering symbol of freedom and democracy. You may be well acquainted with Lady Liberty, but here are a few things you may not know about her.
- Lady Liberty arrived from France aboard an ocean liner. She was in over 300 pieces and packed in over 200 crates.
- Lady Liberty is the official property of New York, although she is actually positioned closer to New Jersey.
- The island where Lady Liberty stands was originally called Bedloe’s Island, but was renamed Liberty Island by an act of Congress in 1956.
- Green is an acquired color for Lady Liberty. Her exterior is actually copper. When copper oxidizes over time, it eventually turns green. Lady Liberty acquired her full head-to-toe green hue by the early 1900s.
- The metal framework within Lady Liberty was designed by Gustave Eiffel who used the same basic design for the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
- The seven spikes on Lady Liberty’s crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world.
- In heavy winds, Lady Liberty can sway up to 3 inches while her torch can sway about 5 inches.
- Lady Liberty’s head was displayed at the 1878 World’s Fair held in Paris.
- Only two invited female guests watched Lady Liberty’s unveiling on the island itself, while most female attendees had to watch the proceedings from a naval ship or other vessels. Suffragettes (women’s rights group of the time) protested during the festivities, because women did not yet have the right to vote in the country being celebrated for its “liberty.” The group chartered a boat and circled the island during the event.
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