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TheStatueofLibertywasintendedtobeseenasauniversal
symbolof enlightenment and freedomThe robed female
figure itself represents Libertas the Roman goddess of
freedomandalthoughyoucannotseeherfeetclearlyshe
standsamongabrokenshackleandchainswithherright
footraiseddepictinghermovingawayfromoppressionand
slaveryThesevenspikesonthecrownrepresenttheseven
oceansandthesevencontinentsoftheworldreinforcing
theuniversalconceptofliberty
OvertimetheStatuewouldalsoemerge asawelcoming
symbolofhopetodifferentgenerationsofimmigrantstothe
USBetweenandalmostmillionimmigrants
enteredtheUnitedStatesthroughNewYorkTheStatueof
Libertywasoftenthefirstthingtheysawastheyarrivedby
shipintheirnewhomeland
TheAmericanNationalParkServicetookoverresponsibility
fortheislandinandsetabouttransformingthearea
aroundtheStatueintoaparkBedloe’sIslandwasrenamed
LibertyIslandintocommemoratethecompletionof
this work The Statue was designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in and continues to attract around
millionvisitorseachyear
AUniversalIcon
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
EmmaLazarus
TheNewColossus