People visiting New York City may very well be overwhelmed by all the amazing sights to see. No matter what you visit, though, make sure you check out the Statue of Liberty, which has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Big Apple and of the entire New World. This gift from the people of France is located on a 12-acre island, reached by ferry. It was actually constructed in France in 1875 by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, while the engineering of its assembly was carried out by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.
The sculptor was attempting to imitate the grand Colossus statue that was once the pride of the Greek island of Rhodes, while legend has it that the statue's face was modeled after the face of Bartholdi's mother. According to another legend, the inspiration for the statue's body was the body of a prostitute. Construction was completed in 1884, and Paris actually played host to the statue until it was dismantled in 1885 to be shipped to America. For the shipping, the statue was dismantled into 350 pieces.
October, 18, 1886 was the date on which the statue was dedicated, while in 1924 it was declared a National Monument and on July 4, 1986 it was restored for its first centennial. The statue holds a table in her left hand, which reads "July 4, 1776" in Roman numerals. It stands 151 feet high without the pedestal and 305 feet high with the pedestal.
Visitation procedures have changed somewhat since 9/11 and where once you could have climbed the 354 internal steps to the head to enjoy a breathtaking view over New York, today this access is restricted. Indeed, you'll have to call ahead for time-limited tickets.