Statue of Liberty
Meet Lady Liberty, the giant green statue welcoming people to America with her torch held high!
Close-up of Lady Liberty's face and crown, showing the seven spikes representing the seven continents and seas
The Statue of Liberty stands tall on a tiny island in New York Harbor, holding her torch high like a giant green lighthouse welcoming people to America! This amazing lady is as tall as a 22-story building and was a friendship gift from France to the United States over 140 years ago. Her real name is "Liberty Enlightening the World."
Full view of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island with New York City skyline in background, showing boats in the harbor. Image Credit: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons
Lady Liberty wasn't always green - she was originally shiny copper color like a penny! Over many years, rain and salty ocean air turned her beautiful green color we see today. French artist Frédéric Bartholdi designed her, and she was built in France, then taken apart into 350 pieces and shipped across the ocean in 214 wooden boxes to America.
Inside the statue, there are 354 steps leading up to her crown, where visitors can peek out through 25 windows. Her tablet shows July 4, 1776 - America's birthday! For millions of immigrants coming to America by ship, Lady Liberty was the first thing they saw, giving them hope for a new life.
The Statue of Liberty reminds us that freedom and friendship between countries can create something truly magnificent that inspires people for generations!
