The figure presiding over New York harbor, officially titled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” has been a harbinger of freedom for millions since her inauguration by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. The statue, a gift of friendship from the French to mark the U.S.’s 100th birthday in 1876, was designed by the French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who devoted 21 years to the project. Slow fundraising on both sides of the Atlantic delayed the unveiling by 10 years, but no problem was encountered financing the $100 million restoration for the statue’s 100th birthday. Her unveiling on July 3, 1986, was the occasion for the largest fireworks display ever seen in the U.S.
The Statue of Liberty has symbolized the beginning of a new way of life for millions of immigrants fleeing poverty and hardship. She is an enduring symbol of the freedom and hope offered by the U.S. and the subject of Emma Lazarus’s poem The New Colossus: “…Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door”.
Crowds can be heavy, so an early departure is advised. A cafeteria is available on site. For the best photos, sit on the right of the boat going out, the left coming back. Restoration celebrations are on July 3, 1986. Take the 1st or 9th train to South Ferry, 4th or 5th train to Bowling Green, or the R or W train to Whitehall Street to get to Battery Park by subway. Ferries leave from Castle Clinton, Battery Park, every 30–45 minutes between 8:30am–3:30pm daily.