The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, United States. The statue was gifted to the United States by the people of France in 1886 as a symbol of freedom and democracy. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower.
The statue stands at 151 feet (46 meters) tall, and with its pedestal and foundation, it reaches a height of 305 feet (93 meters). The statue depicts a woman holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand, on which is inscribed the date of American independence, July 4, 1776. The statue is made of copper and its green color is the result of the natural process of oxidation.
Visitors can take a ferry to Liberty Island to see the statue up close, climb to the top of the pedestal, or even to the crown, although the latter requires advance reservations due to limited availability. The island also features a museum dedicated to the statue's history and construction, and visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the New York City skyline from the island's observation deck. The Statue of Liberty is a national symbol of the United States and a popular tourist attraction, visited by millions of people each year.