The Statue of Liberty

How many times have I admired the Statue of Liberty? I honestly couldn’t tell you. Like the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., it is one of those places that continues to draw me back. Nearly every time I visit New York City, I find myself looking for another opportunity to see her. Sometimes it is from the shoreline, sometimes from the deck of a boat crossing New York Harbor, and several times I have made the trip to Liberty Island to stand beneath her and appreciate her remarkable size.

Dedicated on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to celebrate the friendship between our two nations and the ideals of liberty and democracy. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with the internal framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel, she has welcomed millions of immigrants arriving in America and has become one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of freedom and hope.

The Statue of Liberty became part of the National Park System in 1933 when its administration was transferred to the National Park Service. Today, Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island preserve not only one of America’s greatest monuments but also the stories of the millions who came seeking a better life.

Every time I see the statue, I notice something different. Sometimes I think about the immigrants who first caught sight of her after crossing the Atlantic. Other times, I simply admire the craftsmanship and symbolism that have inspired generations. Standing beneath her is a reminder that she is far larger than she appears from Manhattan or the harbor.

There are certain places I never grow tired of visiting, and the Statue of Liberty is one of them. Each visit reminds me that some landmarks become much more than monuments.  They become symbols of the ideals and aspirations that define a nation.