The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence declares America's independence. A committee of five men, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to write the document. The first draft was written by Jefferson, in seclusion, over a period of several days. John Adams was the first person to revise the document, followed by Benjamin Franklin, and finally the full Congressional Committee. It was altered a total of 47 times before independence was declared. Independence was declared on July 2, 1776, and 39 more revisions to the document followed. John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776.

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was cast in London and was made of 70% copper, 25% tin , and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver. Written on the bell are the words, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." The Liberty Bell cracked the first time it was rung. It was repaired in 1846, and cracked again. The bell has not been rung since.

The Statue of Liberty

The statue stands on Liberty Island in New York. France presented the statue to the United States in 1884 as a symbol of friendship and of the liberty that citizens enjoy under a free form of government. The statue's proper name is Liberty Enlightening the World. Liberty is personified by a proud woman, dressed in a loose robe that falls in graceful folds to the top of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The right arm holds a great torch raised high in the air. The left arm grasps a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. A crown with huge spikes, like sun rays rests on her head. At her feet is a broken shackle, which symbolizes the overthrow of tyranny.

 

 Statue of Liberty National Monument

Frequently Asked Questions

 What is the Statue of Liberty made of? The Statue of Liberty is made of copper 3/32 inch.thick, the same as two pennies put together.

 Why is the Statue green? The Statue's copper has naturally oxidized to form its familiar "patina" green coating. This patina is as thick, in many places, as the copper behind it and is protecting the copper from naturally wearing away.

How tall is the Statue of Liberty? The Statue is 305ft. from the ground to the tip of the flame. It is the equivalent height of a 22-story building. In 1886, it was the tallest structure in New York.

Is the Statue of Liberty an image of a man or woman? Classical images of Liberty have usually been represented by a woman. The Statue of Liberty's face is said to be modeled after the sculptor's mother.

Is the torch open? No. The torch has been closed since the "Black Tom" explosion of July 30, 1916, which was one of the largest acts of sabotage to our nation prior to the event of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Many people think they've been there and confuse it with climbing a spiral staircase which goes to the crown. National Park Service staff must climb a narrow 40ft. ladder in order to maintain the floodlights which light the torch.

Is the crown open? No. The crown has been closed since September 11, 2001. Since the Statue is anything but a conventional structure, making it easier for people to exit the crown, in the event of any emergency, is not possible. The National Park Service has therefore decided to close the crown.

Do I need a reservation to visit the park? No, however if you want to enter the monument or visit the pedestal (highest level for visitors), you'll need a monument access pass provided at no charge by the ferry company at the time of purchase. These passes allows a specific number of people inside the monument throughout each day. Passes are limited and are distributed on a first-come first serve basis by the ferry company with the purchase of a ferry ticket.

If I have a question about monument access passes and ferry tickets, who should I contact? The ferry company should be contacted regarding advance tickets, confirmations, monument access pass availability.

Can I purchase food or bring my own to the park? You can do either. A food concessionaire is located on Liberty Island and Ellis Island or you can bring your own. (Large coolers will not be allowed through security screening)

Which direction does she face? The Statue of Liberty faces Southeast and was strategically placed inside of Fort Wood which was a perfect base for the Statue. The Statue's position was also perfect for ships, entering the harbor, to see her as a welcoming symbol.

Does the Statue of Liberty get struck by lightning? Yes! Although the Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite base she stands on; the Statue gets struck many times each year. Just how many is not known. The Statue's height and the conductive material she's made of, copper, makes it a structure of choice for lightning strikes.

What does the torch represent? The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue of Liberty's torch lights the way to freedom showing us the path to Liberty. Even the Statue's official name represents her most important symbol "Liberty Enlightening the World". The Statue's current replacement torch, added in 1986, is a copper flame covered in 24 K gold. It is reflective of the sun's rays in daytime and lighted by 16 floodlights at night. The original torch was removed in 1984 and is currently inside the lobby of the monument.

What do the seven spikes on the Statue's crown represent? The seven seas and continents of the world.

Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey? The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, federal property administered by the National Park Service, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York. A pact between New York and New Jersey, ratified by Congress in 1834, declared this issue.

Can I dock my personal boat or vessel on the island? No. Docking of private vessels is not permitted! Visitors can only arrive at the island via the contracted ferry concession service presently in place.

Are Pets Allowed In the Park? No, pets are not permitted on the ferry system or in the park itself. Documented service/assist animals are exempt from this regulation.

If I take the ferry from one side, must I return to that side? Yes. Ferries depart from both the State of New York and New Jersey. The side you start from is where you should return to. If not, you may be forced to find alternate ways back due to crowding or ticket office closures.

Is the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? No. The park is comprised of two separate islands, Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, the former federal immigration station, is currently a national museum of immigration.

Can I use my National Park Pass when visiting this park? No. National Park passes are valid at parks that charge an entrance fee. Liberty and Ellis Islands are fee exempt by law. Transportation fee (ferry) does not apply.

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