Statue of Liberty Facts

Statue of Liberty Facts Infographics

The Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons.

This is equivalent to 204,117 kilograms. The weight of the Statue of Liberty’s framework by itself measures around 250,000 lbs which equivalents to 125 tons. 

This great weight can be attributed to the statue’s outer construction, which uses a pure copper framework hung on steel. How’s that for weighty Statue of Liberty facts?

Construction for the Statue of Liberty began in September 1875.

Edouard de Laboulaye first pitched the idea for the construction of the Statue of Liberty as a present to the United States. Its officially construction began in 1875 in France, finishing later on in 1886. 

Once completed, the pieces were first put together in France to ensure the quality of the monument. Later on, it was disassembled shipped in pieces to the United States.

The Statue of Liberty has a full name.

One of the little-known Statue of Liberty facts is that its full name reads: Liberty Enlightening the World. The statue owes its name to the Roman goddess Libertas who symbolized freedom in Roman mythology. 

The face of the Statue of Liberty was modeled after the sculptor’s mother.

Many people believe that the sculptor for the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi used his mother’s face as inspiration for the face of the monument. However, some also believe that the sculptor may have modeled the statue’s features based on his younger brother. 

The current Statue of Liberty torch is only a replica.

The statue may be known for its burning torch, but the one it holds now is actually just a replica. In 1984, the torch had to be replaced due to damage from weather conditions. The new torch replica features a new flame design over the original one, and uses sturdier materials as well. 

The original torch was then placed on display in the Liberty museum for visitors to see. 

It would take a shoe size of 879 to fit the Statue of Liberty.

While her feet cannot be seen, the Statue of Liberty is said to have a shoe size of 879. This is around 98 times larger than the average shoe size of an American woman. How’s that for cool Statue of Liberty facts?

The Statue of Liberty is the tallest structure found in New York City.

From the ground to the tip of its torch, the Statue of Liberty stands at 305.5 feet tall. While this is considered to be the tallest structure found in the state of New York, it is not considered the largest monument found in the United States, nor the world. 

There are 16 vertical tension bars inside the Statue of Liberty.

These tension bars stretch vertically over 60 feet from the top of the pedestal. On these tension bars, there are tightened bolts that create equal stress to pull the Statue of Liberty down to the pedestal. 

All in all, this structure helps secure the Statue of Liberty in place and keep it upright. 

Many people have attempted suicide by jumping off the Statue of Liberty.

Despite the several suicide attempts on the Statue of Liberty, only two people have died from the jump. One was an attempt from 1929, while the second attempt was from another person in 1932.

Many others that attempted the same survived their fall with major injuries as a result.

The green color of the Statue of Liberty is due to natural weathering.

Since the outer layer of the Statue of Liberty is made of pure copper, the original color of the monument was a copper brown tint. However, over time and exposure to many weather patterns, the outer layer began creating a copper carbonate called a patina. 

This phenomenon occurred for 30 years after the monument’s establishment, which eventually gave the Statue of Liberty’s trademark green color.

There are 354 stairs to reach the crown balcony of the monument.

For those who wish to climb up to the observation deck in the monument’s crown, there are around 20 stories worth of stairs visitors will need to climb. The staff of the monument also suggests that those who do choose to climb up these stairs be in good physical condition and health.

On average, it takes around 15 to 20 minutes to complete climbing the stairs up to the crown.

Edouard Laboulaye hoped that this gift to the U.S would inspire the French to fight for democracy.

Laboulaye had hoped that upon the completion of the Statue of Liberty, the monument would inspire the French to fight for their democracy. During the 19th century, Liberty was considered a controversial idea as it suggested revolution and violence. 

However, upon inspiring the Frenchmen with the monument project, an uprising of the middle class set a movement against the government and won. In turn, Laboulaye was also criticized for this occurrence because he spoke out against the violence of the movements. 

The design of the Statue of Liberty is inspired by Ancient Roman civilization.

The main inspiration for the design of the Statue of Liberty comes from the ancient Roman goddess, Libertas. Additionally, inspiration was also taken from the ancient Colossus of Rhodes which was a former monument of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

The theme of the Statue of Liberty also takes inspiration from the civilizations from this time such as her robe. 

The Statue of liberty is struck by lighting an average of 600 times a year.

Since its complete establishment in the United States, it has been observed that the Statue of Liberty is struck by lightning numerous times. On average, around 600 lightning strikes hit the monument per year. 

Peregrine Falcons would often nest on the crown of the Statue of Liberty.

During the mid 20th century, this bird species were considered seriously endangered. However, many Peregrine falcons would also often be spotted on the crown of the Statue of Liberty. 

You can take a ferry to go visit the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue Cruises ferry is currently the only way to access and visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. These ferry lines have two ports where visitors can buy tickets to grant them access to the island. 

The ferry rides take an average of 15 to 20 minutes to reach the island, or to go back to the city.

There is a Statue of Liberty Museum in New York City.

This museum can be found on Liberty Island along with the Statue of Liberty itself. Access comes free upon the purchase of a ticket for the ferry ride to the island. 

Inside the museum, guests can come to see the original torch of the monument used in the early 1880s. There is also an immense theatre inside that plays a short film regarding the interiors and history of the Statue of Liberty. 

The Statue of Liberty once functioned as a lighthouse.

Apart from being a symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty was also originally going to act as a lighthouse for docking boats at nearby ports. The monument was able to act as such for 16 years until it underwent reconstruction. 

After this, the structure could no longer work as a lighthouse as the replacement torch could not emit strong light.

A small fee is required to go up to the observation deck.

Tickets can be reserved before the date of your visit through online transactions and phone bookings. It’s important to note that these tickets cannot be purchased in ticket offices found in New York or New Jersey states. 

You can take a tour to go see the Statue of Liberty.

Most tour packages that include the Statue of Liberty in the itinerary will include visits to Ellis Island as well. These tours can also be taken at the visitor’s own pace as a self-guided headset will also be provided along with the ticket. 

Getting this tour package will also allow you to avoid long lines to visit the two attractions. 

There is a mini version of the Statue of Liberty in France.

This smaller replica of the Statue of Liberty serves as a thank you present from the United States to France for the monument and its efforts. The statue in France also faces in the direction where the Statue of Liberty faces, and vice versa. 

This was also done as a symbol of the relations between the United States and France. 

The Statue of Liberty has many other identical monuments around the world.

One of the most famous replicas is the one found in France which was given by the United States as a thank you gift for the original monument in New York City. Other replicas can be found in The Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. 

Some replicas include different features from the original such as the double welding torch in Spain. England on the other hand features a white Statue of Liberty instead of a green colored one.

Lights are shone on the Statue of Liberty during the night.

It is said that the torch of the Statue of Liberty lights the path to freedom and shows us the direction to liberty. At night, powerful spotlights are shone on the Statue of Liberty to make it visible during the night as well and can be seen from afar. 

This not only allows docking ships to navigate easier at the nearby port but also allows those nearby to appreciate the monument even after hours. 

Without the base, the Statue of Liberty stands at 46 meters high.

If you were to include the Statue of Liberty’s base when measuring its height, it would stand at 305 feet and 1 inch. This is around 93 meters tall, where the base adds 47 meters to its total height. 

The Statue of Liberty has been featured in several modern films.

This monument can often be seen in modern popular culture such as films, postcards, commemorative photos, and as well as modern literature. The Statue of Liberty has also been featured in several comics such as the Marvel comics universe and as well as the DC comic universe. 

In many films, the Statue of Liberty also makes brief cameos while other films such as Cloverfield feature the monument being destroyed. Many television and film productions have also animated the Statue of Liberty to give the monument more personality in these shows. 

The seven spikes on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven continents.

The seven spikes on the crown also represent the seven oceans of the world. This was done to represent the universal concept of liberty. 

However, some believe that the seven spikes on its crown represent the number of rays on the sun which symbolizes the divinity of the monument.

Over the past few years, rough storms have damaged the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty is built with a strong support system in mind to hold during disastrous weather conditions. However, despite taking on damage over the years the Statue of Liberty remains intact thanks to its inner support system save for occasional touch-ups.

The Statue of Liberty has an island called Liberty Island.

The property of Liberty Island is owned by the United States government and remains open to the public for visitations. Previously, this island was known as Bedloe’s Island, until the United States Congress renamed it in 1956. 

The area of the island covers 59,560 sqm, located in the upper New York Bay area. Visitors may only reach the island by taking the ferry service for the Statue of Liberty which requires a small fee. 

On average, the monument receives 4 million visitors a year.

With these numbers, this amounts to an average of 11,000 visitors per day. However, despite this large number of daily visitors, the Statue of Liberty is not considered as the most visited tourist attraction in the United States. 

The Statue of Liberty is made up of 350 individual parts put together.

The French government divided the statue’s pieces in a total of 214 crates, which arrived on the harbor of New York City on June 17th, 1885. However, the Statue of Liberty was not immediately put together until the pedestal for the monument was complete. 

Unlike the construction and assembly in France, it took a total of four months to rebuild and secure the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

The head of the Statue of Liberty was once displayed in a World’s Fair.

Before the Statue of Liberty was shipped to the United States of America, the head was first put on display in a world’s fair in Paris, France during 1878. This exhibit intended to commemorate the project and its significance with France’s connection to the Americans. 

The Statue of Liberty appears on the 10 dollar bill.

In the new 10 dollar bill, the new design features the torch of the Statue of Liberty as a red background image to the bill. This imagery comes with the statement, “We are the people.”

The comic book hero, Miss America, received her powers from the Statue of Liberty.

In the DC comics universe, the superhero, Miss America was given superpowers by the Statue of Liberty itself. This granted her the ability to transmute elements to fight against evil opponents. 

All things considered, this also makes her one of the United State’s first female heroines in the comics. 

Private boats are forbidden from docking at both Liberty and Ellis Island.

Due to both islands being owned by the United States government, it is considered illegal for private boats to dock on its properties. However, the public is free to access these islands provided that they dock using affiliated services for tourists and visitors. 

Additionally, the bridge found on Ellis Island is also off-limits to the public as it is for the exclusive use of authorized personnel. 

A Statue of Liberty replica sits in the city of Las Vegas.

The Statue of Liberty replica found in the city of Las Vegas serves as the new basis of a stamp that features the monument. This replica is also known as Vegas Liberty by locals and tourists.

The replica in Las Vegas also comes in a ⅓ scale of the original Statue of Liberty. 

The Statue of Liberty has a 35-foot waistline.

Each piece and feature of the Statue of Liberty has been measured for statistical purposes. Apart from its waistline being 35 feet wide, other features such as the measurement of its eyes, mouth, and nose have been measured as well. 

The man who designed the Eiffel Tower also designed the spine of the Statue of Liberty.

Gustave Eiffel contributed greatly to the design of the Statue of Liberty which forms the monument’s main support system. This support system is made up of four iron pillars that support the metal framework that holds the monument’s copper skin. 

Over 300 different types of hammers were used to make the statue’s copper structure.

During the construction and assembly of the Statue of Liberty, the crew was made mostly of immigrants. The team used over 300 different types of hammers to get the details of the monuments to feature just right. 

The Statue of Liberty took nine years to complete and assemble in France.

There are a total of 25 windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty.

These 25 windows in the crow of the Statue of Liberty symbolize the 25 gemstones found on the Earth. These gemstones also hold significant meanings in ancient rituals and myths.

All gemstones have also been used in most modern jewelry and decorations. 

High winds can cause the Statue of Liberty to sway up to three inches.

It is said that winds that measure 52 mph or more can cause the Statue of Liberty to sway up to three inches to the side. The torch in its hand can also sway up to six inches in strong winds. 

Many believe that in strong enough winds, the Statue of Liberty could fall over. However, thanks to its support system, it not scientifically possible. 

Only 240 people are allowed in the crown at a time.

The National Park Service allows a maximum number of 240 guests a day to see the Statue of Liberty. This is also the limit of people allowed to go up to the crown in a day. 

However, visitors are grouped into 10 and are given a limited amount of time up in the crown per visit. Each group is accompanied by a National Park Service Ranger who ensures the safety of the group and as well as makes sure that the monument is safe.

The Statue of Liberty has been closed down to the public on more than one occasion.

On many occasions, the Statue of Liberty has been closed to the public due to extreme weather conditions. On other occasions, the Statue of Liberty has also been closed to the public following the events of terrorist attacks such as the September 11 incident in 2001.

The Statue of Liberty can also be found on the Presidential Dollar coin.

The Statue of Liberty is inscribed on the reverse side of the $1 coin. The United States Mint designed this coin as part of the Presidential $1 Program. 

The cost of the Statue of Liberty was covered by both French and American parties in 1885.

In total, building and assembling the Statue of Liberty cost over $109.65 million. In today’s equivalent, this amounts to a total of around $5.4 million. How’s that for million dollar Statue of Liberty facts?

The lights of the Statue of Liberty once repeatedly flashed the morse code for the letter V.

The lights found in the crown of the Statue of Liberty once flashed a morse code repeatedly after the start of the invasion of Europe in 1944. The morse code blinked the letter ‘V’ of the English alphabet repeatedly to stand for victory. 

The whole message of the morse code spelled out ‘Victory in Europe’. 

There is no charge for entering the Statue of Liberty monument.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty comes at no cost. However, a ticket for the ferry is needed as it is the only way to arrive on Liberty Island. 

If they wish to climb up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, visitors must also pay a small fee. The entrance to the museum on Liberty Island is free and comes as a complimentary entry for the ferry ticket.

All ferry rides to see the Statue of Liberty implement strict security checks.

For the safety of all visitors and the safety of the premises, everyone who wishes to visit the Statue of Liberty will go through a mandatory security check. This is done before the visitor boards the ferry.

Forbidden items include weapons of any kind, alcohol, knives, and self-defense sprays. Once security checks have been cleared, visitors may board the boat and take a 15 minute trip to Liberty Island.

Despite being closer to the state of New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty lies in New York Territory.

The Statue of Liberty is part of the state of New York as stated by the Presidential Proclamation of 2250 that was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Additionally, since Liberty Island is owned by the United States government it is neither the property of each state. 

A replica of the Statue of Liberty was once vandalized in 2019.

A replica of the Statue of Liberty located in Great Falls, Montana was reported to be vandalized by spray paint in 2019. However, city police stated that cases of graffiti vandalism are out of their discretion.