Icon #10: Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York Harbor

Standing proudly atop Liberty Island in the middle of the Hudson River, overlooking beautiful New Jersey, is perhaps our state’s most iconic structure of all. That is, unless you ask a New Yorker. Or a devout historian.

Yes, the Statue of Liberty technically belongs to New York. Long story short, New Jersey’s original colonial charter identified the western bank of the Hudson River as the state’s border with New York, meaning that the entire Hudson River – and its contents – belonged to our neighbors to the east. In 1834, the two states agreed to move the border line to the midpoint of the river, which would have put Lady Liberty in New Jersey territory – except that, according to Quora.com, “the agreement expressly designated that New York retained the jurisdiction of what are now called Liberty and Ellis Islands as they then existed.… Liberty Island has largely retained its original dimensions and as a result remains firmly within [New York] jurisdiction.” (The care and administration of Lady Liberty, however, belongs to neither New York or New Jersey. It has been under the control of the National Park Service since 1933.)

So as much as we’d love to call the statue our own – think about it: New York even claims our New Jersey-based sports teams as theirs – we’ll just have to pretend for now. (If you’re up for a bit of a debate, tell us – What do you think? Should the Statue of Liberty belong to New York or New Jersey?)

Either way, the history and pride that are tied to Lady Liberty can never be overstated. She is an icon of freedom for the citizens of the United States of America and for millions of others around the world.

The copper statue, originally named The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift of friendship from France to the United States to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. She arrived in New York in June of 1886 – in 350 individual pieces packed into 214 crates – and was finally dedicated by President Grover Cleveland (A President from New Jersey!) on October 28 of that year, following four months of construction.

Every bit of the statue bears significance. The seven rays on her crown represent each of the seven continents. The tablet in her left hand is inscribed with the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776) – the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. The chains at her feet represent the broken shackles of oppression and tyranny. And the bronze plaque bearing the words to Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus” sonnet have “come to symbolize the state’s universal message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world,” according to The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.

Lady Liberty’s impressiveness knows no end. She stands at 111 feet, 6 inches tall from heel to head and spans a total of 305 feet, 6 inches in height from the base of the pedestal foundation to the tip of her torch. (Her face alone is more than eight feet tall!) She has a 35-foot waistline and weighs 225 tons, or 450,000 pounds.

With such a rich history behind her, there has never been a question concerning the importance of the statue’s upkeep and care. In 1982, when it had become apparent that Lady Liberty was in need of some repairs, President Ronald Regan appointed Lee Iacocca – the chairman of Chrysler Corporation – to spearhead a joint public-private sector restoration effort. Iacocca’s team joined forces with the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., and together they raised $87 million for the job. Work began in 1984, with holes in the copper skin repaired, rusted armature bars replaced, and the entire torch rebuilt (and covered with thin sheets of 24k gold) according to sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s original plans.

On July 5, 1986, the fully restored statue – and a brand new Statue of Liberty Exhibit – opened to the public in celebration of her centennial.

Now, 20 years later, Lady Liberty remains as beautiful and meaningful as ever. She serves as a constant reminder of how lucky we are not only to live within the freedoms of the United States, but also in New Jersey, where – even if we don’t actually lay claim to her ownership – we can look out into the river and gaze into her thoughtful eyes any time we want.

I am proud to be from New Jersey and proud to be an American.  The freedom I was born with is a gift that I will always be grateful for.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.  Enjoy your freedom, traditions and rights to unrestricted religious beliefs this holiday season.  Happy Christmahanakwanzika —- how very American!

Best wishes,

Karen-