(NEXSTAR)—The Statue of Liberty stands majestically in the New York Harbor, where it has been welcoming people to the U.S. for more than 100 years. The iconic landmark was a gift from France to the U.S. in honor of the alliance between the two countries during the American Revolution.
“At the end of the American Civil War, it’s roughly about ten years before America’s 100th birthday, 1876. So, they think this would be a great birthday gift, a great way to signify the friendship between the two countries that has started pretty much at the beginning of the United States,” Park Ranger Lydia Strickling said.
It was a big undertaking, with both countries having to raise money to get Lady Liberty to the United States.
“But eventually Americans do come around to this idea, thanks to Joseph Pulitzer, who owned the New York World newspaper. He said, if you donate money to this effort of building a pedestal which is what the Americans were in charge of, we will put your name in our newspaper,” Strickling said.
Its inner structure may remind you of an equally famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
“The way the statue is constructed, first of all, is an inner tower, an iron and steel framework today covered by that copper outer shell. And the inner framework was designed by the firm of Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, same guy. This is a few years before the Eiffel Tower. So sometimes we like to say this is the first Eiffel Tower,” Strickling said.
The original torch is now inside the statue’s museum. It lit the way for about 100 years but sustained some damage and started leaking.
Renovations were done by both American and French engineers and craftsmen.
“Even up to the point where they replaced the torch in the 1980s, French metal workers were employed to make the new torch design, which was pretty cool. So pretty much the whole way through they’ve been looped together. And that’s, you know, speaking to that friendship between the two countries that’s lasted since the beginning of this one,” Strickling said.
The statue’s design comes from ancient history, inspired by the Roman goddess of Liberty, known as Libertas.
“Even if you go back to artwork from the French Revolution, she appears there … she’s a Roman goddess. She’s holding that torch as a way to spread liberty, spread the light of liberty across the world,” Strickling said.
The real name of the Statue of Liberty sculpture is called “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
The flame spreads enlightenment to all, but the symbolism doesn’t stop there.
“So, the crown is meant to resemble rays of light, kind of like a halo. Again, going along with that idea that she is a goddess, and it looks cool. It’s very artistic,” Strickling said.
Beyond the symbols, the meaning of the statue has evolved over the years and is different for many people.
“I guess the friendship element of the statue story is something that’s, I think a pretty good takeaway, something that unites people, something that brings people together. Because we do have people from all over the world who come here and they can all sort of connect over this image that they’ve seen, this experience that they’ve had here. And it’s one of friendship,” Strickling said.
