Statue of Liberty
New York, New Jersey
Inscribed 1984
"The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Inaugurated in 1886, the sculpture stands at the entrance to New York Harbor and has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States ever since. The statue endures as a highly potent symbol of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy, and opportunity. In addition, its design and construction were recognized at the time as one of the greatest technical achievements of the 19th century and hailed as a bridge between art and engineering.