Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

505

Statue of Liberty

Supported by four steel columns with a framework

of iron, the copper-covered Statue of liberty

represents a woman dressed in a long classical

robe, standing 151 ft (46 m) high. the head

measures 10 ft by 17 ft (3 m by 5 m),

the right arm holding the torch

is 42 ft (13 m) long.

the torch at the top

of the statue is

305 ft (93 m)

above the

water.

the baSe

the statue stands on

a pedestal of concrete

faced with granite. its

base is surrounded by

walls in the shape of an

11-pointed star, part of fort

Wood, a disused fort. the

entire base and pedestal

are 154 ft (47 m) high,

almost the same height

as the statue itself.

Most immigrants into the US between

1870 and 1916 came from Europe.

elliS iSland

the first thing millions

of immigrants from europe

saw after a long voyage across

the north atlantic ocean was

the Statue of liberty. they

disembarked nearby on tiny

ellis island, which, between

1892 and 1943, was the chief

immigration station for

the united States.

MaKinG the Statue

alexandre Gustave eiffel

built the Statue of liberty

in a suburb of Paris,

france. then it was

shipped to the united

States in 214 cases aboard

the french ship Isère. the

parts were reassembled

in new york.

Statue of Liberty

on a bronze Plaque inside the base of the

Statue of liberty are the words of a poem written

by emma lazarus in 1883. Part of it reads: “Give

me your tired, your poor,/ your huddled masses

yearning to breathe free,/ the wretched

refuse of your teeming shore./ Send these,

the homeless, tempest-tost to me,/ i lift my

lamp beside the golden door!” the “masses”

were the people fleeing poverty and oppression

in europe; the “golden door,” the opportunity

to start a new life in the united States. the

french historian edouard de laboulaye planned

the statue in 1865 to symbolize liberty, and to

commemorate the friendship of france with

the united States. it was designed by frédéric

auguste bartholdi and built by the company

owned by alexandre Gustave eiffel, whose

famous eiffel tower dominates the

skyline of Paris.

Visitors enter here and take an

elevator to the base of the statue.

Tablet bears

date of the

Declaration of

Independence.

Seven points signify

liberty radiating out

to the seven

continents, and across

the seven seas.

A 10-year-old

child would

look this size

in the crown.

Mercury lamps

light the torch

of Liberty.

A double spiral

staircase winds

up 171 steps.

12,412,144

10,562,280

1,940,051

ImmIgratIon

1870-1916

740,242

Asia,

Africa, and

Oceania

N. and S.

America

N. and W.

Europe

S. and E.

Europe

Find out more

immigration

united states of america

united states, history of

Observation

platform

in crown

A staircase leads

up the arm.

US_505_Statue_of_Liberty.indd 505 09/02/16 5:28 pm