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Table of Contents
The Statue of Liberty is an 1886 gift from France to the United States as an enduring symbol of freedom. Since its construction, it has welcomed immigrants to the U.S. as it’s located in New York Harbor.
See the fact file below for more information on the Statue of Liberty or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Statue of Liberty worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Historical Background
- During the American Civil War, France was an ally of the Union. It was Edouard de Laboulaye who proposed the idea of giving a monument to the U.S. as a symbol of both the Union’s victory and the abolition of slavery.
- Laboulaye was a French author and anti-slavery activists best known as the father of the Statue of Liberty. Upon giving the gift, Laboulaye hoped it would inspire French people to fight for their own freedom and rights.
- In French, the monument is called La Liberté Éclairant le Monde, or Liberty Enlightening the World. In 1878, the head of the statue was displayed at the World’s Fair in Paris.
- On October 28, 1886, the statue, designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, became the tallest iron feature built that year. U.S. President Grover Cleveland oversaw the dedication ceremony.
- In France, the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and taken to the U.S. aboard the French frigate, Isere.
Structure and Meaning of the Statue of Liberty
- The female figure depicts the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. It is said that the face of the statue was modeled on the sculptor’s mother, Charlotte.
- The statue stands 305 feet 6 inches from the base of the pedestal foundation to the tip of the torch, and weighs 225 tons.
- Her crown has seven spikes, which symbolize the seven continents and seven oceans – indicating the universality of liberty.
- In 1986, the torch in her right hand was restored and covered with sheets of 24k gold.
- She is holding a tablet in her left hand with the inscription “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” or July 4, 1776, which is the date of the American Declaration of Independence.
- The 89-foot high stone pedestal was made by the Americans, while the cost of building the statue was through funds raised in both countries.
- Lady Liberty wears a size 879 shoe and stands in a broken chain signifying the abolition of slavery and moving against tyranny.
- In order to reach the statue’s head, one needs to climb 154 steps from the pedestal.
- Today, the statue has a green patina from the natural weathering of the exterior copper covering.
- In 1903, Emma Lazarus’ 1883 poem, The New Colossus, was engraved on a bronze plaque located at the lower level of the pedestal. It is about welcoming immigrants.
- In 1924, the statue was declared a national monument. Bedloe Island was renamed Liberty Island in 1956.
Lady Liberty in Popular Culture
- In 1984, it became one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
- In 2016, there were an estimated 4.5 million visitors to the statue compared to the Eiffel Tower’s 7 million.
- The original Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor, yet there are several replicas all over the world including a statue in Denmark, Germany, Paris, Las Vegas, Arkansas, Norway and Massachusetts.
- One can see the statue on a $10 bill.
Statue of Liberty Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Statue of Liberty across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Statue of Liberty worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Statue of Liberty which is an 1886 gift from France to the United States as an enduring symbol of freedom. Since its construction, it has welcomed immigrants to the U.S. as it’s located in New York Harbor.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Statue of Liberty Facts
- Statues of Liberty
- Pieces of Liberty
- Freedom by Numbers
- I Love NYC
- Liberty and Famous People
- Historic Landmarks
- French-American Goals
- Liberty Leading the People
- Revolution to Freedom
- Liberty Ws
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Link will appear as Statue of Liberty Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 8, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.