Notes: officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World, (French: La liberté éclairant le monde)

This remarkable statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886. This is a gift of France to the people of the United States of America to commemorate the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. This statue was sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The method used to form the copper sheets hanging on to a lattice work of Iron frames was a process called the repoussé technique, where a malleable metal such as copper is hammered on the reverse side. The height of the statue is 46 m (151 ft), but with the pedestal and foundation, stands 93 m (305 ft) tall.

Location: Liberty Island, New York City
Area: 12 acres (49,000 m2)
Built: October 28, 1886
Architect: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi
Height: 46 m (151 ft), with pedestal and foundation, 93 m (305 ft)
Visitation: 4,235,595 (2005)
Coordinates: 40°41 38 N 74°2 37 W / 40.69389°N 74.04361°W / 40.69389; -74.04361
Governing body: U.S. National Park Service

For me it is one of the most remarkable symbols ever created. The size and beauty of this icon leaves one with a sense of awe and magic, leading to an introspective search of what this great experiment in bringing together all peoples from the world into a "melting pot" called the United States of America is all about. She stands tall and proud and is the beacon of alighting (enlightening) the principles of liberty and freedom she so elegantly represents. The Statue of liberty in fact was once used as a lighthouse. She endures as a marvel of the past and future, standing tall in the entrance of New York City harbor.