The Statue of Liberty: 9 Facts about the New York City Monument

SUMMARY

• Imposing Structure: The Statue of Liberty stands 151 feet tall from base to torch, with the entire monument reaching 305 feet when including its pedestal and foundation. It has many steps leading to the crown platform, offering views over New York Harbor.
• French Origins and Construction: Designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and gifted by France in 1886, the statue’s parts were shipped from France in 214 crates. Gustave Eiffel assisted with the internal support structure.
• Copper Coating and Historical Uses: Coated in copper that has oxidized to a green patina, the statue’s original reddish-brown color has changed over time. It operated as a lighthouse for 16 years before ceasing in 1902 due to ineffectiveness.
• Visitor Access and Location: Tourists can climb 162 stairs to access the crown, which reopened in 2022 after a pandemic closure. Although located in New Jersey’s waters, Liberty Island is part of New York City.

Standing tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty is a potent symbol of American history, representing the nation’s liberty, freedom and inclusivity. Designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the famous statue was a gift from France to the United States, to commemorate the alliance forged between Americans and French during the American Revolution. The constituent parts of the statue were built in France and made their way across the pond in 214 shipping crates. In 1886 the statue was completed, and it has remained in place ever since. But just how tall is this colossal monument? Let’s take a closer look, along with some fun facts about Lady Liberty.

The height of the Statue of Liberty varies, depending on how you are measuring it. From the statue’s base to the torch, the total height is 151 feet. But if you also include the pedestal and the foundation, the entire construction is an impressive 305 feet tall, making up one of the largest monuments in the entire world. To put these measurements into context, the Statue of Liberty is equal in height to a 22-story building from the ground to the tip of the torch flame. There are 167 steps leading from the main lobby of the statue to the crown platform, which offers views out across New York Harbor.

2. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi Almost Made the Statue in Egypt

French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was the man behind this world-famous monument. His first concept for a huge female monument was a lighthouse in Egypt, to commemorate the French construction of the Suez Canal. But when that fell through, Bartholdi set his sights on commemorating the alliance between France and the United States. The rest, as they say, is history.

3. Gustave Eiffel Assisted in the Construction of the Monument

The French engineering workshop Gaget, Gauthier & Co. constructed the Statue of Liberty’s head, arms, and exterior in parts while Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, assisted with constructing the internal pylon tower that supports them. They spent 9 years putting it all together, before pulling it into parts and shipping it to New York City.

4. The Statue of Liberty Is Coated in Copper

Have you ever wondered why the Statue of Liberty has a green hue? The entire statue is coated in a thin layer of copper, as thin as two pennies stuck together, which covers an internal structure made from cast iron and stainless steel. This copper has slowly aged over time, changing from a reddish-brown hue to the distinctive pale green patination we know and love today. Meanwhile, painters covered the gleaming torch in 24K gold during restoration work in 1986.

Likely, the inspiration for Lady Liberty’s chiseled features and strident pose came from a range of sources. Some believe she might have been based on an Arab woman, in line with Bartholdi’s earlier designs for Egypt, while others speculate that she bears an uncanny resemblance to Bartholdi’s mother.

6. The Torch Used to Have a Viewing Platform with Public Access

From the years 1886 until 1916, visitors could access the Statue of Liberty’s torch through a ladder in her arm. At the top of the torch, tourists could exit through a small door to a balcony, providing breathtaking views of the water. The viewing platform closed after the arm needed restoration following a nearby explosion and never reopened. Today, the original torch from the Statue of Liberty resides in the Statue of Liberty Museum.

7. The Statue of Liberty Was Once a Lighthouse

For the first 16 years of its existence, the Statue of Liberty operated as a lighthouse, which was supposed to guide ships coming into New York harbor. While the original idea was to place lights inside Liberty’s crown, these were too bright, and safety officers feared they might blind passing ships. Instead, the light came from the torch. While other lighthouses were still run from kerosene lamps, the Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse to be lit with electricity, powered by a steam electricity plant. Unfortunately, because there was no amplifying lens in the torch, the statue wasn’t much use, and it ceased its lighthouse activities in 1902.

8. Visitors Can Access the Crown of the Statue of Liberty

Limited visitors can access the crown viewing deck inside of the Statue of Liberty. Tourists must buy tickets to visit the crown due to its extreme popularity. To get to the crown, one must climb 162 stairs, which the official website warns is strenuous.

Once visitors complete the climb, they can look out over the harbor through windows in Lady Liberty’s crown. The viewing platform closed in 2020 due to the pandemic but reopened in 2022. Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine shared the above image of tourists in the crown to announce the reopening of the viewing platform.

Technically the Statue of Liberty resides in the waters of New Jersey. However, Liberty Island is part of the 8th Congressional District of New York, and New Jersey has never tried to claim the land, so we can safely say Lady Liberty lives in New York City.

Originally published: February 22, 2023. Last update: August 3, 2024 by Elizabeth Berry