Statue Liberty Essays

Statue Liberty Essays Statue Liberty Paper Statue Liberty Paper Essay Topic: On Liberty INTRO: There are a lot of Historical Monuments in the United States, like the white house and the Washington monument but there is one that caught my eye. The statue of liberty in New York is an iconic figure that symbolizes the importance of freedom in America and plays a significant role in the history of the United States. SYMBOLISM: The statue is truly the enduring symbol of America and in many ways one of the important, symbols of the world. The Statue represents Liberty, the triumph for democratic society over tyranny and corruption, and because of its location in New York’s harbour it represents the hopes and dreams of anyone from anywhere who wants to come to America in search of a better life. The crown that she wears on her head has seven points. Those represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world. The broken chains at her feet symbolize freedom from oppression, while the tablet she holds in her left hand is inscribed with July 4, 1776, the date the Declaration of Independence was signed. The torch is a symbol of enlightenment and lights the way to freedom showing us the path to liberty HISTORY OF HOW IT WAS BUILT: The Statue of Liberty was designed by sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. It was first built in Paris and later reassembled in New York Harbor. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to mark the Declaration of Independence and the alliance formed between the two countries during the American Revolutionary War. Once the statue delivered, it took four months to put it together, and was completed on October 28, 1886. The statue is made of copper and is now green in color because of oxidation (a chemical reaction between metal and water) from evaporation of the seawater surrounding it. The statue is 151 feet tall and rises above a pedestal. In total, the top of the torch rises 305 feet (93 m) above the ground. The torch is visible at night from any direction. Several different lighting schemes were used in the past. Currently, 16 large floodlights provide light. The torch is visible about 24 miles out to sea in clear conditions. In fact, the Statue of Liberty once served, in addition to its role as a national icon, as a functioning lighthouse. It was not considered very useful, however, and that role evaporated in 1902 ITS ROLE IN MODERN SOCIETY: The statue of liberty in New York is one of the most popular statues in the world and has a significant role in modern society. It is one of the most precious monuments in the United States and is also a great tourist attraction. As a part of security measures, tourists are not allowed to access the crown and torch of the statue. According to the National Park Services, until the Black Tom explosion, which occurred on July 30, 1916, the torch was accessible to tourists. The black tom explosion is act of sabotage on American ammunition supplies by German agents to prevent the materiel from being used by the Allies in World War 1. There are two guided tours provided around the island. One is a gentler informational tour that doesn’t require much exertion. It lasts for about 30 to 60 minutes. The second tour is a tour which allows you a view from a 10 storey high observatory. Though requires considerable amount of energy, it gives lifelong memory. You can only take a ferry to reach the Statue of Liberty, thus emphasing the importance of the statue of liberty.