Estelle Schwartz Belford was five years old when she and her family immigrated from Romania to America in 1905. After an arduous journey by sea, Estelle described what it meant to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time as the ship sailed into New York Harbor:
And then all of a sudden we heard a big commotion and we came to America. And everybody started yelling they see the Lady, the Statue of Liberty. … Everybody started screaming and crying. You were kissing each other—people that you didn’t even know before that were alongside of you and you never paid any attention. Everybody was so excited that you see America and you see the Lady with her hand up.
With her torch lifted heavenward and her crown of light rays on her head, the Statue of Liberty may be one of the most recognized and inspirational monuments in the world. But what is the meaning of the Statue of Liberty, and why is that meaning important for us today?
Test Your Knowledge of the Statue of Liberty
What do you already know about the meaning of the Statue of Liberty? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz. You can click a question to see the answer, but try to answer without looking.
How did you do? To learn more, keep reading!
The Birth of an Idea
Édouard René de Laboulaye, a native of France, was a strong proponent of liberty—perhaps because he had experienced firsthand Napoleon’s repressive regime. Laboulaye vigorously opposed slavery, serving for a time as chairman of the French Anti-Slavery Society. He also supported President Abraham Lincoln in the United States in his opposition to slavery during the American Civil War.
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Laboulaye conceived the idea of creating a monument as a gift from the people of France to the people of America. He had several things in mind—besides honoring the friendship between France and America, he wanted to commemorate America’s Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the recent abolition of slavery.
Bringing the Idea to Life
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, an architect and sculptor, was intrigued by Laboulaye’s idea. He began designing a massive statue representing the ideals of liberty. His design was rich in meaning, incorporating these elements:
- Though there were probably multiple influences on the form of the statue, it bears a resemblance to Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty.
- The statue’s crown is said to represent light “extending out to the world.” Some have suggested that the seven rays on the crown represent the seven seas and seven continents, implying the global importance of liberty. One writer suggested that the seven rays of her crown represent seven vital freedoms, including civil liberty, personal liberty, and religious liberty.
- The torch in her right hand represents enlightenment, showing the path to liberty.
- A tablet in her left hand is inscribed with the date of the United States Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).
- A broken shackle and chains lie at the statue’s feet, representing liberty breaking the chains of bondage, including the abolition of slavery in the United States.
- Her right foot is raised, suggesting forward motion and continued progress of freedom.
The formal name of the statue is “La Liberté éclairant le monde,” or “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
Another Meaning for the Statue of Liberty
As you might imagine, constructing the Statue of Liberty wasn’t cheap. Fundraising took place both in France and the United States, and the final cost is estimated to have been around $400,000—close to $12 million in US dollars today.
To help with fundraising efforts, poet Emma Lazarus was asked to write a poem that would convey the meaning of the Statue of Liberty. The result was her sonnet “The New Colossus,” which appeared in the New York Times. Lazarus, a descendant of Russian Jewish immigrants, wove into her poem the plight of many around the world seeking freedom. The poem’s theme centered on America as a place of refuge, and she referred to the Statue of Liberty as “the Mother of Exiles,” who welcomed those from other lands.
Lazarus’s poem added a layer of meaning that complemented and extended the original symbolism—a meaning that was powerful to Estelle Bedford and many others who found a new home in America.
The Ongoing Quest for Liberty
At the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland spoke of the responsibility to keep the fires of liberty alive until “a stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man’s oppression, until Liberty enlightens the world.”
Though many nations around the world have seen progress over the years, our global society is still working toward the ideal of liberty. Reflecting on the meaning of the Statue of Liberty helps us keep that important goal in front of us. As individuals, families, and nations, we all have a role to play in standing for and celebrating the cause of freedom. Lady Liberty inspires us to keep walking forward until liberty is a reality for every human being.
