Statue of Liberty

firefox France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States over one hundred years ago during the American Revolution as a sign of friendship. The statue has grown as a symbol freedom, democracy, and friendship between countries. Liberty enlightening the world is how the Statue was first known. It was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor. After being built it was delivered to the American Ambassador in Paris. In order to transfer the stature to America it was dismantled into 300 pieces. At first when the statue was brought to America it was without a pedestal because of a lack of funds in America. Soon an American newspaper owner used his paper to push Americans to donate for a pedestal. With a new pedestal in place the Statue of Liberty was reassembled and dedicated on October 28, 1896.

Facts

  • The Statue is 350 feet tall and has 354 steps in it all the way up to the torch and 25 viewing windows in the crown.
  • There as 7 points in lady liberties crown representing the 7 seas and 7 continents.
  • America's birthday is also represented on the statue; the inscription of July 4, 1776 is chiseled into the tablet she holds.
  • In 1984 the Statue was made a world heritage Site, so a colossal alteration started and in 1986 the Statue was reopened to the public.
  • The Statue of Liberty was closed after the unfortunate occurrence of September 11, 2001 but was reopened in 2004.

New Amsterdam

firefox The Dutch purchased Manhattan from the Manhattan Indian Tribe that the island for approximately $24. The island was owned by the Dutch for about 50 years and remnants of that time still remain today. The Dutch erected a stockade wall that was erected on the northern edge of New Amsterdam and is known as Wall Street today. Haarlem and Breukelen were Dutch villages and are better known today as Harlem and Brooklyn. Early Dutch farmers called bouweries provided the name for the Bowery section of the city today. English settlers expanded into New Netherland forcing the Dutch out of New Hope and the Connecticut Valley. In 1664 the Duke of York established his territory between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers. New Amsterdam became New York as a result of his declaration.