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Place Name
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Statue of Liberty National Monument
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Place Status (Type)
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national monument
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Location
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New York, United States, North America
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Latitude
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40°41'N
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Longitude
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74°01'W
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Statue of Liberty National Monument
, national historic site, SE
N.Y., Upper Bay of N.Y. Harbor, 2 mi/3.2 km SW
of S tip of Manhattan, on Liberty Isl.; 40°41'N 74°01'W. The Statue
of Liberty was a gift from France to the U.S. symbolizing alliance and
friendship bet. the 2 nations; dedicated Oct. 28, 1886, on the site of
what was then called Bedloe's Isl., it was proclaimed a natl. monument
in 1924. The site was chosen and the statue designed by Fr. sculptor
Frederic-Augusta Bertholdi; Gustave Eiffel designed the
statue supports, and American Richard Morris Hunt designed the
Neo-Grecian base. It has become an internationally known landmark with
particular significance with regard to immigrants coming to the U.S.
The tip of the statue's torch is 305 ft/93 m
above the waters of N.Y. Harbor. Enlargement of the base to accommodate
the Mus. of Amer. Immigration, begun in 1956, was completed in 1972. In
1965, nearby Ellis Isl. became part of the natl. monument. A major,
$150-million refurbishment of the statue and landscaping around it
(1984-1986) was financed by donations by individuals and corporations.
The statue is also known as Lady Liberty.
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