Lady Liberty Celebrates 125 Years By Going Online!
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
On Friday, October 28th, 2011 one of America's most famous landmarks - The Statue of Liberty AKA Liberty Enlightening The World, celebrated its 125th years of existence. The statue was given to the country by France in 1886, as a gesture of the friendship between the two countries and symbolized the love of liberty shared by both.
The 131ft. copper statue of the robed female figure depicting Libertas, the Roman goddess of Freedom carrying a torch, was originally designed to be a lighthouse and functioned as one for 16 years, until 1902.
However, it soon turned into a symbol of freedom to the thousands European immigrants that came to the USA to escape the devastating famine and war that swept through their countries in the mid 1900's. Today, the lady in green is one of the most popular tourist destinations clocking in over 3.5 million visitors each year.
In celebration of her 125th birthday, Lady Liberty's famous torch was fitted with five web cameras - Four to provide 24-hour video footage of the vista around and one to provide footage from inside the statue itself. In addition to that, 125 lucky immigrants from 40 countries got to take their oath of citizenship under this symbol of freedom.
The evening culminated with a spectacular show of fireworks after which, Lady Liberty closed its doors to the public to undergo a year of renovations. The $27.25million USD undertaking will include upgrades to the statue's 125-year-old pedestal and the 200-year old fort base from which she stands so proud. In addition to that, the statue's interior will be fitted with new stairways and elevators and its water and mechanical systems will be re-furbished. While visitors will still be able to visit and admire the statue from the outside, those wanting to take a peek inside, will either have to wait a year or simply check out the live feed from the statue by visiting sf.earthcam.com.
Happy 125th Birthday Lady Liberty!
Resources: Wikipedia.org,abc.go.com,latimesblogs.latimes.com
Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
227 Comments
- harlam5over 13 yearslol
- Roseover 13 yearsI did this for my Current Event.
10009418over 13 yearsthat`s so kool i wish i was there- alexover 13 yearsWoW it is so cool that lady liberty is 125 years old and the torch cam view is so cool.I like the video about the fireworks is so awsome.i I can't beleive thet there is 3.5 millon people evry years . I never been to the statue of liberty but i think it wowld be cool .
- Cassandraover 13 yearsWow! 125 is a lot of years. Happy birthday Statue of Liberty! I have visited her. I didn't go inside of her but I wanted to. I like the video with the fireworks. It looks cool. ~ I <3 Miss Spucci
- Mayaover 13 yearsHappy birthday Lady Liberty. I think it is great that she is already 125 years old. I just wish a year could pass so I could see her new upgrade. But it is kind of sad she is going to change. People have got to know her so well through out the 125 years she has been standing. We are lucky nothing has happened to her. She could have been knocked down by terrorists or somthing. We are lucky she is standing today.
- StEpHaNiEover 13 yearscOOl! I remember when we learened about it. And we also went to the website and saw the live videos. About 2 weeks ago, my family and I went to NY city. There was ships in the ocean, and we used bonoculars to see The Statue Of Liberty!-by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY LIBERTY!!!!!!
- zackover 13 yearsi like the fire works. it looks cool at night.I cant belive its the 125 Anniversary of the statue of liberty. I love the statue of liberdy.
jackthefamousover 13 yearsWow, I wish I could have gone there. I've never been there. I have been on a boat that went right past it but not there. I wonder if the people are really exicted. I know I would be. The earthcam is really cool I want to actually see the veiw from the tourch though. It would be cool if one of the webcams showd the builders do the work. If I could I would and would'nt want to work there. I would because it's amazing. I would'nt because there is to many people and I REALLY don't like crowds. Well I am going off to see the webcam. I heard it's cool. They have one where you can see the harbor. Maybe i'll see a boat or some planes. I know this is long so im going to stop now:/ JACK- D@nnyover 13 yearsWOW! I can't belive that the statue of liberty is 125 YEARS OLD!!!!!! The fire works were cool. I've been there once on a boat. It's cool how 125 immagrants became citizens.