How Big is the Statue of Liberty?
The height of the Statue of Liberty from the base to the torch is 151 ft. If you include the foundation and pedestal, the height would be 305 ft. The statue is set on a 65 foot high, 11 pointed, star shaped foundation. The stone pedestal is 89 feet high.
Lady Liberty’s Vital Statistics
Her feet are 25 ft long. In terms of shoe size that would be size 879. The statue’s waistline is 35 ft. The face is 8 feet high. The right arm that holds the torch is 42 feet long. The nose measures 4 ft. 6 in. The hand is 16 ft 5 in long and the index finger is 8 ft 1 in.
Pedestal and Crown
The height of the Statue of Liberty is not its only impressive feature. There are also 354 steps beginning at the pedestal up to the crown. Prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, it was open to tourists. The crown is famous for its New York Harbor window view. There is also museum gallery and a deck you can use for observation.
There are 7 points on the crown, each representative of the seven countries and seven seas. Each ray weighs at least 150 lbs. They also reach a length of 9 feet.
Weight
The statue weighs 225 tons (or about 450,000 lbs). The copper used for the statue weighs over a hundred tons. The weight of the steel is 250,000 pounds or 113.4 metric tons.
Design
The statue is neoclassical in style. Located in New York Harbor, it was conceptualized by Frederic Bartholdi. Dedication took place on 28 October, 1886. The future landmark was a present of the French to the citizens of America.
The figure is representative of Libertas, the Roman deity of independence. She is grasping a torch and the tablet bringing to remind the rules of the land (this tablet is known as the tabula ansata). On it is set the date July 4, 1776, the US Declaration of Independence. At her feet lies a broken chain.
Due to the political situation in France, building of the statue commenced only in the 1870s. The Americans funded the site and the pedestal while the French provided financing for the statue. When the statue was completed, then President Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremony and parade.
The design and height of the Statue of Liberty made a positive impression upon Americans when they first beheld it. Today, it has become a symbol of freedom and independence.
