Statue Of Liberty Reopens As America Celebrates Its Independence

The Statue of Liberty reopened to the public today, eight months after Superstorm Sandy shuttered parts of the national symbol of freedom, as Americans around the country celebrated Independence Day. Hundreds of tourists lined up today to be among the first to board ferry boats bound for Liberty Island. The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States. It is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886 and designated as a National Monument in 1924.

The photo of the American flags was taken Rockefeller Center on President's Day last year. Every fourth of July, American flags are flown at Rockefeller Center.

Little Lady Liberty

One of the most widely recognized American symbol is the 151-foot Statue of Liberty by French sculptor Auguste Bertholdi. The statue has inspired numerous small scale replicas intended to echo the ideals of freedom, tolerance and opportunity, including this replica (c. 1900) by an unknown artist from Akron, Ohio. Made of galvanized sheet steel and zinc over iron frame, the figure is installed outside the Brooklyn Museum together with the museum's outdoor collection of architectural fragments. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most common symbol of Independence Day marking the anniversary of the publication of the declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776.