7 Obscure Yet Interesting Facts About The Statue Of Liberty
by www.SixWise.com
Since coming over from France in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has been symbolizing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the American people.
With all of its awe and glory, you may already know that the Statue rises 305 feet into the air and is topped by a crown with 25 windows and seven spikes … but we bet you don’t know these seven lesser known factoids about the Statue of Liberty, which NPR recently reported:
- The Statue of Liberty’s seven spikes are not just any old odd number – they represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world.
- The Statue stands on a concrete foundation that weights 125 tons, and is crafted from 31 tons of copper and 125 tons of steel.
- In 1916, shrapnel from a munitions depot on a nearby island, sabotaged by German agents, damaged the Statue’s torch -- an event now known as the “Black Tom” explosions. The torch has been closed to the public ever since.
- In winds of 50 miles an hour, Mrs. Liberty sways three inches and her torch moves five!
- Although the Statue is typically regarded as a symbol of hope, at least three people have committed suicide from jumping off the top.
- The Statue of Liberty is no stranger to Hollywood; it’s been featured in numerous films, including The Immigrant with Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Saboteur.
- Chewing gum and lipstick are popular modes of vandalism at the Statue, which struggles to avoid defacement every year.
SixWise Says ...
Do you know what quote is on the Statue of Liberty?
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Recommended Reading
Human Statue of Liberty
12 of the U.S.A.'s Most Unusual & Interesting Museums
Sources
NPR.org May 8, 2009