Facts About the Statue of Liberty
Published September 16, 2026 · FactsSeeker
The Statue of Liberty brings together sculpture, engineering, and a message expressed through carefully chosen symbols.
It stands in New York Harbor
The monument occupies Liberty Island. Its position makes it a familiar landmark for arrivals by water. [1]
The dedication was in 1886
The statue was officially dedicated on October 28 after construction in France and reassembly in New York. [1]
Bartholdi designed the sculpture
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi was the sculptor. Other specialists designed the pedestal and internal structure. [1]
The exterior is copper
Chemical weathering produced the green surface over time. Green was not the original copper color. [1]
The tablet records a historic date
Its inscription refers to July 4, 1776, connecting the statue with the Declaration of Independence. [1]
Broken shackles lie at its feet
These symbolize the abolition of slavery. They are easy to overlook when viewing the statue from far below. [1]
Its formal name refers to enlightenment
Bartholdi named the work Liberty Enlightening the World. The familiar shorter name preserves only part of that title. [1]
It crossed the Atlantic in pieces
The statue was built in France, disassembled, and shipped in 1885. Workers then reassembled it above its American pedestal. [1]
Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal
The supporting structure had its own architect. It was a separate design project from Bartholdi’s sculpture. [1]
Oxidation created the green exterior
The copper surface changed color through chemical reactions. Its green appearance developed after construction. [1]
The raised torch symbolizes enlightenment
Lady Liberty holds it in her right hand. The gesture connects with the sculpture’s full name. [1]
Emma Lazarus contributed a fundraising poem
She wrote The New Colossus in 1883. A plaque in the pedestal commemorates the sonnet. [1]
Sources & further reading
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Sources checked 2026-09-16. Our approach to facts · Suggest a correction