The Statue of Liberty symbolizes freedom throughout the world. This monumental sculpture is 46 m/151 ft high with surface composed of copper sheets. It stands on the island called Liberty Island in close proximity of Ellis Island in New York Harbor.
Its formal name is Liberty Enlightening the World. The statue depicts a woman escaping the chains of tyranny. She holds a burning torch that represents liberty in one hand and a tablet with the date written in Roman numerals: "July 4, 1776" (the day the United States declared its independence) in the other hand. The seven rays of her spiked crown symbolize the seven seas and continents.
It was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The copper statue was designed by a French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, and was built by Gustave Eiffel, the same Eiffel who designed the famous tower in Paris. The monument was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
