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| Statue of Liberty, Photo courtesy The Lighthouse People |
By Marilyn Turk
Although the lady is 125 years old, she’s still standing tall
and proud at the entrance to New York’s Harbor.
Famous for her imposing stature and her regal form, she has
represented freedom to thousands of immigrants. The people of France named her
“Libertas,” after the Roman goddess for freedom, when they built her and
shipped her over as a gift for the United States.
She holds a torch in her right hand representing enlightenment
or progress and in her left arm rests a tablet inscribed with the
date of American’s Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Since her
establishment on the island leading into the harbor, thousands of ships have
hailed her as their welcome to the country.
She retains another unique position in that she was considered a
lighthouse and governed by the US Lighthouse Board from 1886 to 1901 and owns
the distinction of being the first lighthouse lit by electricity. Her
torch, held 305 feet in the air, contained nine electric arc lamps and could be
seen 24 miles out to sea. In fact, the first lightkeeper, Albert Littlefield,
received a higher salary than any other lightkeeper because he was
familiar with the “new” technology.
Although the torch was extinguished many years ago and her
status as a lighthouse was removed, flood lighting was installed to reveal the
entire figure at night. Therefore, now her whole body reflects light for all to
see.
On the Fourth of July, the lady, the Statue of Liberty, will be
emblazoned by thousands of fireworks set off in the harbor as the United States
once again celebrates its freedom, commemorating the words at her base:
Give me your tired, your
poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of you
teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!
A multi-published author, Marilyn Turk writes historical fiction about and lives in the coastal South. Her most recent novel, A Gilded Curse, released in March 2016 from Heritage Beacon Fiction, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina. Her fascination for lighthouses spawned her popular weekly lighthouse blog @ http://pathwayheart.com, and inspired her book, Lighthouse Devotions – 52 Inspiring Lighthouse
Stories.
That's cool. I've never been to New York. It would be awesome to see The Statue of Liberty up close.....maybe someday.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I were able to go to the Statue of Liberty, but it wasn't open at that time.
DeleteI love lighthouses too, Marilyn. I didn't know that the original purpose of the Statue of Liberty was
ReplyDeleteas a lighthouse. Somehow, that seems very appropriate as she has lit the way for many to enter our
beautiful country. Thanks for sharing.
I agree, Kathleen! It has been a welcome sight for many immigrants.
DeleteI love lighthouses too, Marilyn. I didn't know that the original purpose of the Statue of Liberty was
ReplyDeleteas a lighthouse. Somehow, that seems very appropriate as she has lit the way for many to enter our
beautiful country. Thanks for sharing.
Great title for the post, Marilyn! And thanks for highlighting an iconic New York entity. As a former New Yorker, I remember when the state was raising funds to refurbish this lady. She was closed to visitors during the reconstruction which took some time and was, of course, expensive. For awhile you could still go up to the torch but then for awhile you could go partway up but NOT to the torch. It was great when she was finally finished and polished and ready for the daily hordes of visitors again.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't open all the way when I was there about twelve years ago. Hope I can go up into the torch someday.
DeleteThanks for this great post. I am a fan of lighthouses but had no idea that The Statue of Liberty was originally intended to be a lighthouse.
ReplyDeleteConnie, I was surprised to discover this fact too!
DeleteThank you for sharing, Marilyn. So interesting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Melanie!
DeleteGood and informative post.
ReplyDelete