The Statue of Liberty, a colossal neoclassical sculpture, stands proudly on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and with its metal framework built by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from the people of France to the United States, symbolizing the enduring friendship between the two nations. Dedicated on October 28, 1886, the statue represents a woman holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) in her left. Standing 305 feet tall, the Statue of Liberty has become an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, welcoming millions of immigrants arriving by sea and representing hope and opportunity.
