Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a gift from France to the United States and a global symbol of freedom and democracy.
Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with an internal iron framework by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It commemorates the alliance between France and the United States during the American Revolution.
Standing 305 feet tall from ground to torch, the statue depicts Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, holding a torch and a tablet inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
It became a symbol of welcome for millions of immigrants arriving by sea, particularly through nearby Ellis Island, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.