Statue of Liberty

My first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States is undoubtedly the symbol of the country itself. The Statue of Liberty is probably one of the most recognizable statues in the world. Before the advent of air travel, it is also a symbol of a new life as a lot of immigrants coming from the Atlantic will be coming from by sea and will undoubtedly pass by the statue. The sight of the Statue of Liberty is surely a relief after a very long ocean voyage. As a lot of people already know, the Statue of Liberty is a gift of the French people to the people of the United States.

I’m not very clear about France’s involvement in this story but it seems that it stems from the American Civil war. The original proponent of the statue supported the Union and when the Union did win the war, it was thought that any monument built in honor of American independence would be a joint effort with the French. The colossal copper statue was built in France while the pedestal and site was provided by the United States. If you were wondering, the statue was shipped from France in parts and then assembled at the site. I must have been amazing to see such a massive statue assembled in front of your eyes. The statue is a robed woman holding a torch and a book which has come to mean freedom all around the world.

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