You may know that this world-famous monument, popularly known as “Lady Liberty,” stands in New York Harbor and welcomes people arriving in New York by ship. It was presented to the United States in 1886 as a token of friendship by the people of France, recognizing the friendship established during the American Revolution. The statue is of a robed woman holding a torch. You saw her walking through the streets of Manhattan in Ghostbusters 2. The most famous words from the inscription are, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
You probably don’t know some of the physical dimensions of the statue:
· total weight of statue is more than 220 tons
· the statue is 151 feet high (305 with the pedestal)
· the hand is about 16 feet long
· the index finger is 8 feet long
· the nose is 4½ feet long
· the right arm is 42 feet long
· the mouth is 3 feet wide
Liberty Island, which is about 12 acres, was formerly called Bedloe’s Island. The name was changed by an Act of Congress in 1956. The estimated 4 million visitors each year can walk around Fort Wood at the base and take an elevator to the pedestal observatory. However, the observation deck in the crown, and the torch, have been closed since September 11. The National Park Service states it is because of potential fire code concerns rather than terrorist threats.
Tip: This is a must-see! Even though my wife and I both grew up in the New York City area, we visited Liberty Island for the first time only a few years ago. It is very inspiring, and it affords spectacular views of the New York Harbor and lower Manhattan. In fact, we went on a Caribbean cruise from Brooklyn in 2006, and passed by the island, providing a much different viewpoint.
Please feel free to leave a comment, and please come back!
Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer
My Novels:
Death on Broadway
Death Beneath the Streets
Death in Central Park
Nathan Hale
December 30, 2008 at 5:07 am |
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” were the famous words as you pointed out.
It’s funny how newcomers to the North America are always looked down upon. The Natives looked down on the Europeans, the Protestants looked down on the Catholics, black slaves born in America looked down on imported slaves, and now Americans look down on Mexicans. Now we turn the immigrants away. Although either presently or through heritage, we are all immigrants.
December 30, 2008 at 1:20 pm |
So true, isn’t it? I lived in Korea for 4 years, and experienced first hand what it’s like to be in the foreign minority…not a comfortable feeling at all.
Thanks for leaving a comment!
Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer
http://www.randolphmase.com
My Novels:
Death on Broadway
Death Beneath the Streets
Death in Central Park
Nathan Hale