It’s no secret that NYC is known for it’s amazing, man-made landmarks. Every year, we at HeliNY have the privilege of flying thousands of people around the city to experience these once-in-a-lifetime views for themselves.
It’s also definitely no secret that of all of these Manhattan landmarks, the Statue of Liberty is number one. We think it’s safe to say that in no way, shape, or form is the Statue of Liberty underrated. We’re sure you know about her: What she looks like. Where she’s located. But how well do you really know Miss Lady Liberty? Do you know her full name? Statue of Liberty may work if you know her well, but for all those not super friendly with this lady, ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’ is her full birth name.
Let’s continue with some basics, courtesy of libertyellisfoundation.org.
We all know she is one talllllll lady. To be specific, the Statue of Liberty resides at a staggering 111 feet. At the risk of being impolite, we’ll also tell you that she weighs a whole 225 tons.
Her torch is made of 24K gold and each of the 7 rays of her crown weigh as much as 150 pounds! Did you notice the broken chains at the feet of Lady Liberty? They represent the broken shackles of oppression and tyranny. Lady Liberty sure is a force to be reckoned with.
Now that we’ve talked about the basics, do you know anything about this copper beauty’s history?
Frenchman Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed the idea of a monument for the United States in 1865. Ten years later, sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design the statue and in 1884, architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the Statue of Liberty’s granite pedestal.
On October 28, 1886, Lady Liberty was finally dedicated to the U.S from France in front of thousands of spectators. In order to be brought to America, she had to be taken apart into 350 individual pieces and transported in 214 crates!
Okay, let’s stop talking about her and actually introduce ourselves to her!
You can meet Miss Lady Liberty on any of our most popular helicopter tours. You can take the New Yorker Tour, the Ultimate Tour, or the Deluxe Tour – all will provide you with stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!
To learn more about our tours, click here.
