Statue of Liberty

Hello from the water. I stand very, very tall in a big harbor, right next to a city full of skyscrapers. The cool sea breeze tickles my nose, and I watch little boats and big ships chug by all day long. My skin is a pretty green color. That is because I am made of a special metal called copper that turned green over time from the wind and rain. On my head, I wear a crown with seven big spikes, like rays of sunshine. And in my right hand, I hold a golden torch way up high. My light shines bright so that everyone can see it, even when it is dark. People from all over the world come to see me. They wave from the boats and look so small from way up here. I love greeting them with my steady light. It feels very important to stand here, watching over the busy city and the wide ocean. I am the Statue of Liberty, and I have a wonderful story to share.

I was not always here. I am actually a giant gift. The people of France, a country far across the ocean, wanted to give a special present to the people of America. They wanted to celebrate a wonderful idea called freedom. A kind artist named Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi dreamed me up. He designed my face to look calm and my long robes to look like they are blowing in the wind. But how could a statue as big as me stand up straight and tall? That is where a super-smart engineer named Gustave Eiffel came in. Yes, the same man who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. He built a strong iron skeleton for me on the inside, like my bones, to hold me up against the wind and waves. I was built in a big workshop in Paris, piece by piece. My arm here, my head there. I was made of over 300 copper pieces. When I was all finished, they took me apart again. Can you believe it? They packed me into more than 200 giant wooden boxes. In 1885, I sailed on a ship across the big, wavy ocean. When I arrived, the people of America were so excited. They had built a giant stone stand, called a pedestal, just for me to stand on forever.

A Light of Hope for Everyone
Once I was standing on my pedestal, I had a very important job. For many, many years, I was one of the first things people saw when they sailed to America. They came on big ships from all over the world, looking for a new home and a new life. I can still picture their faces looking up at me, full of hope and excitement. My torch was like a giant welcome sign, saying, ‘You are here. You are safe.’ In my other arm, I hold a tablet. It is like a big book, and it has a very important date written on it: July 4, 1776. That is the birthday of the United States of America. Today, visitors still come to see me. They climb all the way up to my crown and look out at the amazing view. I remind everyone that friendship between countries is a beautiful thing. I stand tall to show that even a little light of hope can make the whole world feel brighter and more welcoming for everyone.