The Statue of Liberty, one of America’s most recognizable landmarks and a beacon of the American Dream for millions of immigrants, turns 125 today!
The statue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gift to the United States from the people of France, was designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886.
The statue, including the pedestal and base, is scheduled to close for up to a year beginning on October 29, 2011, so that a secondary staircase and other safety features can be installed; Liberty Island will remain open. Public access to the balcony surrounding the torch has been barred for safety reasons since 1916.
Check out the videos below for more insight about this spectacular monument, a 2 minute HD tour of the Statue, and the incredible stunt of illusionist David Copperfield, who ‘disappeared’ the entire statue in the eighties.
