Visit New York’s colossal copper queen, a world-renowned beacon of liberty, democracy and hope.
One of the most well-known statues in the whole world, the Statue of Liberty holds a special place in the hearts of Americans, and is an icon of the country’s culture. This breathtaking emblem is found on Liberty Island in the middle of New York’s harbour, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a US National Monument.
The lines “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” are forever associated with the statue, and are carved on a plaque at its base. This sentiment sums up what the Statue of Liberty represented to the many millions of poverty-stricken people who arrived from the Old World to the New during the course of the 19th century. The gigantic statue, which stretches 92 metres in height, was a gift of friendship from France in 1886 to commemorate the American Declaration of Independence, whose date is inscribed on the tablet contained in the statue’s left hand.
Take the ferry from Battery Park, and make sure to soak in the wonderful views of New York’s harbour, the cityscape and, of course, the statue itself during your trip. Guided tours of the statue take just under 60 minutes, while you can also take your time with a self-guided tour. Both are excellent options to gain a deeper appreciation of the island and the statue’s past.
Join the queue for access to the crown, and climb up the interior of the statue for a 360-degree panorama across the city and the harbour through the 25 glass windows.
Further expand your knowledge of the enormous and fascinating inward migration to the US at Ellis Island Immigration Museum, just two kilometres away. This is where millions of people were processed before entry to America, and was open until 1954. The self-guided tour of the many images, documents and films on display gives an incredible insight into the lives and the hardship faced by a massively diverse range of people who arrived here in the hope of a new life.
The Statue of Liberty is in New York’s harbour, situated between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Buses and subway lines serve the Battery Park ferry port.