Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with its iron framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel — the same engineer behind the Eiffel Tower. The statue was a joint effort between the people of France and the United States: France funded and built the statue itself, while Americans funded and constructed the pedestal on which she stands.

Standing 305 feet tall from ground to torch tip, the statue is constructed from copper sheets just 3/32 of an inch thick — roughly the thickness of two pennies. The statue of liberty copper exterior has oxidized over time from its original shiny copper color to the iconic blue-green patina visible today. The statue of liberty original color was a warm, bright copper when she was first unveiled in 1886.

Lady Liberty holds a torch aloft in her right hand — the statue of liberty torch — symbolizing enlightenment, and a tablet in her left hand inscribed with the date July 4, 1776. At her feet lie broken chains, representing liberation from oppression. The statue of liberty chains are one of the most symbolic and frequently overlooked details of the entire monument — they are only fully visible from the air.

The Statue of Liberty was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and receives nearly four million visitors every year. Here are the key facts every visitor should know:

• How tall is the Statue of Liberty? The full height from ground to torch tip is 305 feet (93 meters). The statue alone, from base to torch, is 151 feet.
• What is the Statue of Liberty made of? The exterior is made of copper sheets mounted on an iron skeleton designed by Gustave Eiffel.
• What does the Statue of Liberty represent? Lady Liberty symbolizes freedom, democracy, and the friendship between France and the United States. The seven rays of her crown represent the seven continents and seven seas.
• The statue's original torch was replaced in 1984 and is now displayed inside the Statue of Liberty Museum. The current torch is covered in 24-karat gold leaf.
• The statue of liberty poem — "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus — is inscribed on a bronze plaque inside the pedestal. Its famous lines ("Give me your tired, your poor…") are among the most quoted in American history.

The best time to visit the Statue of Liberty is early morning on a weekday. Ferries depart from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan starting at 8:30am — the first boat of the day is the least crowded. Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) offer the most comfortable weather and shorter queues.

For the best manhattan view from statue of liberty, visit on a clear morning when visibility across New York Harbor is at its sharpest. The statue of liberty viewpoint from the observation deck at the crown offers a 360-degree panorama of New York Harbor, the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn, and New Jersey — one of the most spectacular views in the entire city.

Plan for at least 3–4 hours if you're visiting both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Crown access adds approximately one additional hour. The museum alone can easily fill 90 minutes.

The only way to reach Liberty Island is by ferry. Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ferry service — statue city cruises is the only operator licensed by the National Park Service to run the official statue of liberty and ellis island ferry from Battery Park, Manhattan, and Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

Take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, or the 1 train to South Ferry, and walk 5 minutes to the ferry terminal at Battery Park. Use our interactive NYC subway guide to plan your route door to door before you arrive.

General admission tickets include the round-trip ferry, Liberty Island grounds access, and Ellis Island. Crown and pedestal tickets are upgrades and must be reserved separately when you purchase tickets.

Alternatively, use our NYC Subway Navigator for step-by-step directions from your hotel.