She stands in the harbor overlooking the great expanse many of our families saw for the first time when they first came to the United States of America. The statue was completed in Paris in June 1884, given to the American people on July 4, 1884, and reassembled and dedicated in the United States on October 28, 1886. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and promise. But what do you really know about the statue itself?
Here are some useful facts next time conversation heads in her direction.
Her Size (In a case like this it’s ok to ask her size without getting in any trouble.):
- Her total overall height from the base of the pedestal foundation to the tip of the torch is 305 feet, 6 inches.
- Height of the Statue from her heel to the top of her head is 111 feet, 6 inches.
- The face on the Statue of Liberty measures more than 8 feet tall.
- There are 192 steps from the ground to the top of the pedestal and 354 steps from the pedestal to the crown.
- A tablet held in her left hand measures 23′ 7″ tall and 13′ 7″ wide inscribed with the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776)
- Lady Liberty’s eyes are each 2 feet 6 inches across, she has a 35-foot waistline, and she weighs about 450,000 pounds (225 tons).
- The statue’s hand is 16 feet 5 inches long and her index finger is 8 feet long. Her fingernails are 13 inches long by 10 inches wide and weigh approximately 3.5 pounds each.
- The Statue has a 35-foot waistline.
- There are seven rays on her crown, one for each of the seven continents, each measuring up to 9 feet in length and weighing as much as 150 pounds.
- Total weight of the Statue of Liberty is 225 tons (or 450,000 pounds).
- Lady Liberty’s sandals are 25 feet long, making her shoe size 879.
- At the feet of the Statue lie broken shackles of oppression and tyranny.
- During the restoration completed in 1986, the new torch was carefully covered with thin sheets of 24k gold.
- The exterior copper covering of the Statue of Liberty is 3/32 of an inch thick (less than the thickness of two pennies) and the light green color (called a patina) is the result of natural weathering of the copper.
Other Miscellaneous Facts to Note:
- The statue functioned as an actual lighthouse from 1886 to 1902. There was an electric plant on the island to generate power for the light, which could be seen 24 miles away.
- The Statue of Liberty underwent a multimillion dollar renovation in the mid-1980s before being rededicated on July 4, 1986. During the renovation, Lady Liberty received a new torch because the old one was corroded beyond repair.
- The statue’s real name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
The best way to see the Statue of Liberty is if Royal Coachman drops you off and picks you up, as traffic and parking in the downtown area is especially tricky. Give us a call and we’ll arrange your stress-free, fun trip!
Sources: http://www.statueofliberty.org/Fun_Facts.html http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/20-facts-about-the-statue-of-liberty20.htm
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