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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
“Keepancientlandsyourstoriedpomp!”criesshe
Withsilentlips“Givemeyourtiredyourpoor
Yourhuddledmassesyearningtobreathefree
Thewretchedrefuseofyourteemingshore
Sendthesethehomelesstempest-tosttome
Iliftmylampbesidethegoldendoor!”
EmmaLazarus
TheNewColossus