Children's Web Magazine

The Statue of Liberty

New York is a popular destination for people who are looking for a short break to do some Christmas shopping. But it is also home to the hundred and twenty year - old monument the Statue of Liberty. It was given as a present to America from France and symbolizes friendship. It was designed and created by the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Eiffel was the one who designed the interior metal structure. The statue was a joint collaboration between the two countries, as America had to create a pedestal to put the statue on. The statue which commemorates the United States declaration of independence stands 151 feet and 1 inch tall on Liberty Island in New York (U.S.A.) it faces towards France where it welcomes visitors, Americans and is a sign of hope to arriving immigrants. It depicts a woman wearing a crown and holding a torch up towards the sky in one hand. In her other hand she holds a tablet that is inscribed. When she was shipped to America she had to be packed up like a jigsaw puzzle, there were 350 pieces that had to be put into 214 crates.
For six years from 1886 to 1902 she served as a proper lighthouse. By the 1980's the statue was in need of restoration and it closed in 1984 so it could be restored in time for its centenary in 1986. Seven layers of paint had to be removed from its interior and liquid nitrogen was used to do this. Two layers of tar also had to quite literally be blasted away; baking soda was used to do this. It did the job without harming the copper. Some of the Iron skeleton had to be replaced with stainless steel and the copper had to be treated. All of this would help preserve the statue. The torch though sadly couldn't be repaired and had to be replaced, although the original remains in the monuments museum. You can visit the Statue of Liberty but since the terrorist attack on the twin towers on the 11th September 2001 you can no longer go and climb up it. There is a possibility it could re-open next year if the American politicians approve a bill in congress. In my opinion it should re-open. I know they are worried about safety but you can't wrap everything in cotton wool. Especially something that stands for liberty. The word means freedom and the opposite means suppression. So isn't it time the Statue of Liberty fully stood once more for what it represents?

© Children's Web Magazine 2006