Your Complete Guide to Exploring the Historic Liberty Island

History of Liberty Island in a Nutshell

Liberty Island, originally known as Bedloe's Island, was named after Isaac Bedloe, a Dutch merchant who owned it in the late 17th century. It served as a military fortress location during the American Revolutionary War.

The idea of a colossal statue to commemorate the alliance between France and the United States and celebrate freedom was conceived by Édouard de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and abolitionist, in the mid-1860s. The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with Gustave Eiffel assisting with the structural framework. Construction of the statue commenced in France in 1875 and was completed in 1884. It was disassembled, shipped to the United States, and reassembled on Liberty Island. The statue was then officially dedicated on October 28, 1886.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Statue of Liberty became closely associated with the welcoming of immigrants arriving in the United States. It served as a symbol of hope, freedom, and opportunity for millions seeking a new life in America. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge declared the Statue of Liberty a national monument. In 1984, the monument, including Liberty Island, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The statue underwent major restoration works in the 1980s and early 2000s to address structural issues and enhance visitor experiences. A later addition, the Statue of Liberty Museum, showcasing the history and significance of the statue, was opened on Liberty Island in 2019.

Today, Liberty Island stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy, attracting millions of visitors each year who come to admire the statue, explore its history, and embrace the ideals it represents.