Liberty Enlightening the World
“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!” ~Emma Lazarus, 1883
In keeping with the Americana theme this week, it was on this date, June 17, 1885 when the Statue of Liberty arrived from France to stand as a beacon of welcome for millions of immigrants who sailed into New York Harbor. The quote above is from a sonnet written by Emma Lazarus as part of the fund raising efforts to pay for the pedestal base of the statue and her words were immortalized when a bronze plaque engraved with her poem was mounted at the statue in 1903. During the great immigration period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of hope and of a new beginning for millions fleeing their European homelands.
The Statue of Liberty was originally titled “Liberty Enlightening the World” and was sculpted by a French artist named Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and who was assisted by Gustave Eiffel (you know, the engineer who built the neat little tower in Paris). The statue was shipped in over 300 separate pieces aboard the French steamer “Isere” who nearly sank in the early goings of her voyage. The ship took longer than expected to arrive when she ran out of coal and had to make the rest of the voyage under sail. The statue is comprised of a steel and wrought iron framework with an outer “skin” consisting of 300 pieces of copper sheeting less than an eighth of an inch thick. As many know, the statue was designed as a gift from France to help the United States celebrate our centennial celebration in 1876 but the efforts in raising funds both in the US and in France took much longer than expected and it was well after the centennial when the statue arrived. Even though the statue was delivered in June of 1885, it wasn’t until 1886 before the assembly process could begin because the base and pedestal were not ready until then. President Grover Cleveland officially accepted the Statue of Liberty on behalf of the United States on October 28th 1886 in a dedication ceremony where the last rivet was installed in the newly reassembled statue.
Some tasty tidbits for you folks who love random fact:
1. The statue is 305’ 6” tall from Base to the tip of the torch
2. She is 111’ 6” from the top of her head to the soles of her feet
3. Lady Liberty’s torch is overlaid in 24k gold (1986 renovation)
4. There are seven rays on the crown of Lady Liberty representing the seven continents
5. The tablet held in her left hand measures 23' 7" tall and 13' 7" wide and is inscribed with the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776)
6. Total weight of the Statue of Liberty is 225 tons (or 450,000 pounds)
7. There are 154 steps from the pedestal to the head of the Statue of Liberty
There is no doubt that the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable images of the United States that is known around the world. She is known for accepting people of all walks of life from all over the globe, anyone wishing to find a safe haven for a new beginning, this is what she represents. I hope everyone has an awesome weekend and as always, I thank you for reading. If you have any comments or just want to chat, please drop me an email at wmreid@bhcshealth.com and I will be glad to get back to you. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com