Statue of Liberty secrets

Summary

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of friendship between France and the United States, welcomed many immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Originally named 'Liberty Enlightening the World,' her copper surface, once shiny, turned green by 1936 due to oxidation. Designed with resilience, she can sway during hurricane-force winds, demonstrating her strength, notably during Superstorm Sandy. Her right foot, built in Paris and assembled in 1886, symbolizes the crushing of slavery and oppression, while her torch represents the light of liberty and freedom.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The Statue of Liberty symbolizes the friendship and alliance between France and the United States.
• 🌍 Many immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island saw the statue and likely passed down stories about it to their families.
• 👑 The statue's design was inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas, and its original name was 'Liberty Enlightening the World.'
• 🏛️ The Statue of Liberty became a national monument in 1924 and is now famously known by that name.
• ⚒️ The statue's copper shell is 2.5 mm thick and was originally a copper color before turning green due to oxidation.
• 🟢 By 1936, on the statue's 50th anniversary, it had mostly turned green through natural weathering processes.
• 💨 The statue is designed to sway during high winds; it can move 3 inches side to side, and the right arm and torch can move up to 5 inches.
• 🌪️ The Statue of Liberty remained standing strong during Superstorm Sandy, symbolizing resilience.
• 👣 The statue's right foot, which was one of the last parts to be closed during its assembly, is said to represent an American woman with shoe size 879.
• 🔗 The chains and shackles under the left foot symbolize the end of slavery and oppression, with the torch leading people into freedom and liberty.

Q & A

What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

The Statue of Liberty symbolizes the friendship and alliance between France and the United States, as well as freedom and democracy.

Why is Ellis Island significant in relation to the Statue of Liberty?

Ellis Island was the first point of entry for many immigrants, and they passed by the Statue of Liberty, which became a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Many shared stories about it with their families, and those stories were passed down through generations.

What was the original name of the Statue of Liberty?

The original name of the Statue of Liberty was 'Liberty Enlightening the World,' inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas.

When did the Statue of Liberty become a national monument?

The Statue of Liberty became a national monument in 1924.

What is the thickness of the copper used in the Statue of Liberty?

The copper used in the Statue of Liberty is 2.5 mm thick.

What was the original color of the Statue of Liberty, and how did it change over time?

The original color of the Statue of Liberty was copper. Over time, due to oxidation, it started turning green around 1900 and was mostly green by its 50th anniversary in 1936.

How does the Statue of Liberty handle strong winds, such as during hurricanes?

The Statue of Liberty is designed to move slightly to withstand strong winds. The statue can move 3 inches side to side during hurricane-force winds, and the right arm and torch can move up to 5 inches.

What is significant about the right foot of the Statue of Liberty?

The right foot of the Statue of Liberty is significant because workers passed through the sole when assembling her in 1886. Her shoe size is equivalent to a U.S. women's size 879.

What do the shackles and chains beneath the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

The shackles and chains beneath the Statue of Liberty symbolize the abolition of slavery and oppression. They represent her role in leading people out of darkness and into the light of liberty and freedom.

What is the symbolism behind the Statue of Liberty’s torch?

The torch held high by the Statue of Liberty symbolizes leading people out of darkness and into the light of liberty and freedom.

Outlines

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🗽 The Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty represents the strong friendship and alliance between France and the United States. Many immigrants passing by Ellis Island saw the statue, and its stories were passed down through generations. It was originally named 'Liberty Enlightening the World' after a Roman goddess, Libertas. In 1924, it became a national monument and gained worldwide recognition as the Statue of Liberty.

⚙️ The Construction and Transformation of the Statue

The statue's copper exterior was 2.5 mm thick. Originally copper-colored, it began oxidizing around 1900, and by its 50th anniversary in 1936, it had turned mostly green. The design allowed for flexibility during extreme weather, enabling movement of up to 3 inches in high winds, and the right arm and torch could sway 5 inches during hurricane-force conditions, as witnessed during Superstorm Sandy.

👣 The Giant Symbolism in the Statue’s Foot

One notable feature of the Statue of Liberty is her right foot. Workers entered and exited through her sole during the assembly in 1886, with her shoe size being an impressive 879. Her large feet, paired with her 35-ton waist, emphasize her monumental size and significance.

🔗 Shackles of Slavery and the Promise of Freedom

Under the statue’s left foot are broken shackles and chains, symbolizing the defeat of slavery and oppression. These details highlight the statue's deeper meaning: leading people out of the darkness of slavery into the light of liberty and freedom, with the torch as a beacon of hope and enlightenment.

Keywords

💡Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a monumental statue in New York Harbor, symbolizing freedom and democracy. In the video, it is described as a gift from France to the United States, representing the alliance and friendship between the two nations. The statue's significance is further highlighted as a symbol for immigrants who passed by it when arriving at Ellis Island.

💡Friendship and alliance

This phrase refers to the strong diplomatic and historical ties between France and the United States. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes this relationship, as it was a gift from France to honor their connection. The concept emphasizes the statue’s role not just as an American symbol but as a representation of international cooperation.

💡Ellis Island

Ellis Island was the primary immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1954. In the video, it is mentioned that many immigrants passed by the Statue of Liberty when they arrived, and the sight of the statue became a powerful symbol of hope and new beginnings for them.

💡Libertas

Libertas was the Roman goddess of freedom and is the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty. The video explains that the statue's original name was 'Liberty Enlightening the World,' a direct reference to the goddess Libertas, who represented personal and political freedom, aligning with the values the statue symbolizes.

💡National monument

A national monument is a site designated by a government for its historical, cultural, or natural significance. The Statue of Liberty was designated as a national monument in 1924, reinforcing its importance as a symbol of freedom and the American ideal of liberty.

💡Oxidation

Oxidation is the chemical process that causes materials like copper to corrode and change color over time. The video mentions how the statue, originally copper-colored, began to oxidize in 1900, turning green by 1936. This green patina has become a recognizable feature of the Statue of Liberty.

💡Hurricane-force winds

These are extremely powerful winds, often associated with hurricanes, that can cause structural damage. The video explains how the Statue of Liberty was designed to withstand such forces, with the statue being able to move slightly during strong winds, ensuring its durability and stability.

💡Torch

The torch held by the Statue of Liberty symbolizes enlightenment, guiding people from darkness to freedom and liberty. The video highlights how the torch is an integral part of the statue’s message, representing hope and the pursuit of freedom.

💡Shackles and chains

Shackles and chains symbolize slavery and oppression. The video describes how these are depicted under the Statue of Liberty’s left foot, representing the breaking of these bonds and the triumph of freedom over oppression, aligning with the statue's symbolic message of liberation.

💡Liberty and freedom

Liberty and freedom are central themes of the Statue of Liberty. The video emphasizes how the statue symbolizes the ideals of freedom from oppression, particularly in the context of slavery and the pursuit of personal and political liberties. This concept is reinforced through the imagery of the torch and the crushed shackles.

Highlights

The Statue of Liberty symbolizes the friendship and alliance between France and the United States.

Many immigrants who passed by Ellis Island would see the Statue of Liberty, and stories about it were handed down through generations.

The Roman goddess Libertas inspired the statue, leading to its original name: Liberty Enlightening the World.

In 1924, the Statue of Liberty became a national monument and gained the name it is known by today.

The statue is made of copper, and the thickness of the copper is 2.5 mm.

Originally copper-colored, the statue began oxidizing around 1900 and by 1936, during its 50th anniversary, had turned mostly green.

The Statue of Liberty is designed to move, with the entire structure able to shift 3 inches during hurricane-force winds.

The right arm and torch can move up to 5 inches during strong winds, allowing the statue to withstand natural forces like Superstorm Sandy.

The statue was built in Paris and assembled in New York in 1886.

Workers accessed the sole of the statue’s right foot during construction, making it one of the last parts to be closed up.

The statue's right foot is size 879 in American shoe size.

The statue has a waist circumference of 35 feet.

Beneath the left foot are the broken shackles and chains, symbolizing the crushing of slavery and oppression.

The statue's symbolism represents leading people out of the darkness of slavery and oppression and into the light of liberty and freedom.

Her torch held high signifies the guidance toward freedom and liberty.

Transcripts

Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the

friendship and alliance between France

and the United

States a lot of immigrants who came in

Ellis Island went by it and I'm sure

that they told stories to their family

and it's been handed

down Bari did his research he came up

with a Roman goddess named libertas

which led to her name original name

which is Liberty enlightening the world

it's only 1924 and she became a national

monument that she become known as the

Statue of Liberty

the thickness of the copper is 2 and 1/2

mm which is uh this thickness right

here the uh statue was originally what

copper or color would be over the years

it started going to the first stage of

oxidation right around 1900 she was

starting to turn green and by the time

of the 50th anniversary in 1936 she was

mostly

green I being a bridge builder and knew

that things had to have some give to

them or they going to break and fall

down she can move 3 in right or left

during Hurricane force winds the right

arm and torch can move up to 5 in so

when I superstorm Sandy came through she

stood there tall and proud and waved at

Sandy

what I like to talk about is her right

foot and they built her in Paris and

then when they assembled her here in

1886 workers went in and out of that

sole so it was one of the last places to

be closed up that's an American woman

Sho size

879 so she got big feet goes along with

her 35t waist that she has

there under that left foot are the

shackles and chains of slavery and

oppression that are being crushed and

that's shows uh part of her symbolism

which is that she's taken you out of the

darkness of slavery and oppression and

with that torch held high leading you

into the light of Liberty and freedom