The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States in 1886, showing the friendship between the two countries. A French sculptor used thin copper sheets on a metal frame—designed by the engineer who later built the Eiffel Tower—to make the huge statue. Because it was too big for a single ship, the statue was taken apart into many pieces and shipped to New York, where an American-built base was completed with money from people across the nation. When it was put together, it became the tallest structure in America, standing over 46 meters (about 150 feet) high. Today the statue faces the ocean, welcomes visitors, and remains a worldwide symbol of freedom.
- Statue
- Definition: The enormous copper statue given by France to the United States, representing a woman holding a torch.
- Example: “The Statue of Liberty may be one of the biggest presents in history!”
- Freedom
- Definition: The concept symbolized by the torch held by the statue, representing liberty.
- Example: “The torch is a symbol of freedom.”
- France
- Definition: The nation that created and presented the statue to the United States as a reminder of friendship.
- Example: “In 1886, France gave the United States a huge statue.”
- Copper
- Definition: The thin metal sheets used to form the skin of the statue.
- Example: “He decided to make her skin out of thin copper sheets.”
- Eiffel
- Definition: The engineer, Gustave Eiffel, who designed and built the massive metal frame for the statue.
- Example: “He asked an engineer to design and build the huge frame. That engineer’s name was Gustave Eiffel.”
- What does the torch held by the statue symbolize?
- power
- freedom
- peace
- strength
- Who was the engineer that designed the statue's metal frame?
- Gustave Eiffel
- Alexandre Gustave
- Louis Eiffel
- Henri Eiffel
- Into how many pieces was the statue reduced for shipment?
- 150
- 250
- 350
- 450
- In which year was the base of the statue completed?
- 1885
- 1886
- 1887
- 1888
- How many steps lead up to the statue's crown?
- 254
- 354
- 454
- 554
- Do you think the Statue of Liberty is still an important symbol of freedom today? Why or why not?
- Have you ever visited a famous monument that represents something important to your country? Share your experience.
- Why did the French choose a woman holding a torch to represent liberty?
- What might have happened if the statue had been made of a different material instead of copper?
- Some people say the Statue of Liberty should be modernized or changed. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- The United States asked people to donate money to build the statue’s base. Should the government have paid for it instead? Explain.
- Imagine the Statue of Liberty was built in another country. How would its design or meaning be different?
- If you could interview Gustave Eiffel while he was building the statue’s frame, what three questions would you ask?
- Do you think gifts between countries, like the Statue of Liberty, help improve friendships? Why or why not?
- How does the statue’s location facing the ocean help it welcome ships and visitors?
The Statue of Liberty
A Big Gift
The Statue of Liberty may be one of the biggest presents in history! In 1886, France gave the United States a huge statue. It is a woman holding a torch high in the air. The torch is a symbol of freedom. The gift was given to remember the important friendship between the two countries. One hundred years earlier, France had helped America in its war for freedom from Britain.
A French sculptor was chosen to design the statue. It was a very difficult job because of its size. He decided to make her skin out of thin copper sheets. Then he would attach them to a metal frame. He asked an engineer to design and build the huge frame. That engineer’s name was Gustave Eiffel. He would later build the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
The statue was too big to fit on a ship. So it was reduced to 350 pieces and taken to America in many separate boxes. The builders chose a small island in New York Harbor as the place to put the statue. The statue was a gift. However, the US needed to build a base for her to stand on.
People from all over America sent money to help build it. The base was finished in the spring of 1886. They began to put the pieces of the statue together. When the statue was finished, it was the tallest structure in America. She stands over forty-six meters high. Just one of her fingers is 2.4 meters long!
The statue faces the ocean to welcome ships as they sail into New York. Each year, thousands of visitors come to the island to see her. They can even climb the 354 steps up into her crown and look out the windows! She is a symbol of freedom for people all over the world. After all, it’s in her name. The word “liberty” means freedom.
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