Created
by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from
France to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and was dedicated
on October 28, 1886. Standing 305 feet tall from the base of the pedestal to the top of
the torch, the Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize New York City and its historic role
as a haven for immigrants. The Statue's crown consists of seven points, representing the
seven continents. Inscribed on the tablet in the Statue's left hand are the words:
"July 4, 1776." Emma Lazarus' famous tribute, "The New Colossus," was
immortalized at the entrance to the pedestal in 1903. Today, the Statue of Liberty is
arguably the most famous landmark in the world.New Yorkers have had an emotional attachment with Yankee
Stadium since the day it opened on April 18, 1923. Located at 161st Street in the Bronx,
Yankee Stadium occupies 11.6 acres. It has been home to many legends, the site where both
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig bid their farewells to baseball. The city acquired the property
and stadium in 1971 and closed the stadium between 1974-75 for renovations. It has a
current seating capacity of 57,545.
| Ferries have played a pivotal role in the
development of Staten Island since as early as the 18th century, and have continued to do
so even after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened in the 1960's. An estimated 70,000
people use the ferry each day to commute between Staten Island and Manhattan. The ferry is
also a popular tourist attraction, since it offers breathtaking views of the Statue of
Liberty and Ellis Island. The fare for trips on the ferry was eliminated last summer. |
The
Brooklyn Bridge played an historic role not just in the development of Brooklyn, but in
the evolution of the city. Its completion in May of 1883 provided an additional incentive
for Brooklyn residents to unite with their neighbor across the river. It took 14 years to
construct and is considered a feat of 19th century engineering. Twenty-seven people lost
their lives in its construction, often from the bends, including its creator, John A.
Roebling. The bridge's roadway is 135 feet above the East River and the stone towers are
271 feet high. It spans 1,595 feet and at the time of its construction, was the tallest
and longest bridge in the world.
The
Unisphere was constructed in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens for the 1964-65 World's
Fair. A gift from the US Steel Corporation, the Unisphere is the largest globe in the
world, standing 120 feet tall and weighing almost one million pounds. It symbolized the
theme of the Fair, which was peace through understanding. It consists of steel renderings
of the seven continents and is encircled by three metal rings. Two of its concentric rings
symbolize the orbits of the first American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in outer
space. The third ring symbolizes the first communication satellite in outer space. The
Unisphere is now a landmark and has become a fitting symbol of Queens, the most diverse
county on the planet. After a $3 million renovation, the addition of spectacular lighting
makes the Unisphere visible from many distant vantage points on the ground and in the air.
It has also gained national prominence, appearing on television shows, in commercials, and
magazine ads.
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| Statue
of Liberty
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| World
Famous Yankee Stadium |
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Staten Island Ferry
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| The
Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Unisphere
in Queens |
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