History UsefulNotes / StatueOfLiberty

-> ''"I've lived in New York all my life and I never visited the Statue of Liberty. Now I finally get here and we're taking her out for a walk."''
-->--'''Winston Zeddemore''', ''Film/GhostbustersII''

!!Tropes it has evoked:
* AfterTheEnd: Often seen in these kinds of works to show how Man's hubris is ultimately pointless... or give hope that humanity will rise again.
%%* BigApplesauce: Can't have UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity without it.
* CaptainErsatz: Many people mistake Columbia, the figure in the opening sequence of Creator/ColumbiaPictures films, with her.
* EiffelTowerEffect: The Statue often serves as an instant metonym for America and New York. And since Gustave Eiffel did the engineering for it, the Statue ''is'' technically an Eiffel Tower.
** In many stories involving immigrants, seeing the statue from a ship invokes great emotion.
%%* HumongousMecha: If it's a WeaponisedLandmark, it tends to be this.
* LivingStatue: Liberty comes to life in many works, most notably ''Film/GhostbustersII'' and as a Weeping Angel in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Recap/DoctorWhoS33E5TheAngelsTakeManhattan."
* MonumentalDamage: The shock value of seeing it damaged or destroyed is enormous, most famously in the original ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968''. It has even been [[MonumentalTheft stolen]] on occasion.
%%* WeaponizedLandmark: In ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', ''Film/MenInBlackII'' and other stories.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: in the late 1860s Bartholdi proposed a similar idea for a statue at the entryway of the Suez Canel, depicting an Egyptian woman bearing a torch.

* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: [[SarcasmMode What do you mean, the FRENCH made it??]]. All jokes aside, the statue is essentially derived from the iconography of UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution. The Roman Goddess Liberty was revived by the Revolutionaries and they installed statues, often crude ones in the altar of Notre Dame and in the Place de la Revolution. After the July Revolution, the painter Eugène Delacroix's famous masterpiece, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Leading_the_People Liberty Leading the People]] revived Liberty as an iconic figure, later renamed Marianne. The Statue was built in the Third Republic after the UsefulNotes/FrancoPrussianWar and intended to celebrate the survival of Democracy after a long struggle.

* InsistentTerminology: It was a gift from the ''people'' of France. Claiming it simply as a gift from France implies some involvement from the French government.

* CaptainErsatz: Many people mistake Columbia, the figure in the opening sequence of Columbia Pictures films, with her.

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/PlanetOfTheApes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-statue_of_liberty_in_planet_of_the_apes_4532.jpg]]]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: in the late 1860s Bartholdi proposed a similar idea for a statue at the entryway of the Suez Canel, depicting an Egyptian woman baring a torch.

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/ThePlanetOfTheApes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-statue_of_liberty_in_planet_of_the_apes_4532.jpg]]]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: in the late 1860s proposed a similar idea for a statue at the entryway of the Suez Canel, depicting an Egyptian woman baring a torch.

* AfterTheEnd: Often seen in these kind of works to show how Man's hubris is ultimately pointless... or give hope that humanity will rise again.

%%* WeaponizedLandmark: In ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', ''Film/MenInBlackII'' and other stories.

[[caption-width-right:300:[-[[WebComic/{{Homestuck}} If you see [...] Statues of Liberty on any [...] planet, that automatically means it was]] EarthAllAlong.-]]]

A gift from the people of France (to celebrate the parallel fights for freedom of Colonial America and Revolutionary France, and having helped each other many times) the statue itself was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi[[note]]He modelled the face on his mother and the body on his wife...make of that what you will[[/note]]. Bartholdi on a visit to America selected Bedloe's Island (known as Liberty Island today) as the location. The project often stalled for funding, and received contributions from many people in France and America. engineering and construction was handled by several people. The final interior work was done by none other than Gustav Eiffel himself. The money for the statue came from several contributors, after a major drive by Joseph Pulitzer which caught people's imagination.

[[caption-width-right:300:[-[[WebComic/{{Homestuck}} If you see [...] Statues of Liberty on any [...] planet, that automatically means it was Earth all along]].-]]]

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/statue_of_liberty_sm_2156.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''Liberty Enlightening the World''...]]

-> ''"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,\\
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;\\
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand\\
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame\\
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name\\
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand\\
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command\\
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.\\
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she\\
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,\\
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,\\
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.\\
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,\\
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"''
-->-- '''Emma Lazarus''', ''The New Colossus''

The Statue of Liberty has become such a world-renowned icon that just by seeing it most people instantly realize either where the setting of a story is (UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity) or that it involves America and its ideals in some way.

A gift from the people of France (to celebrate the parallel fights for freedom of Colonial America and Revolutionary France, and having helped each other many times) the statue stands on a pedestal on Liberty Island, located just off the coast of Manhattan. It is highly visible from Ellis Island, where [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream immigrants to the United States]] used to be processed before entering the country.

The statue itself was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi[[note]]He modelled the face on his mother and the body on his wife...make of that what you will[[/note]]. Bartholdi on a visit to America selected Bedloe's Island (known as Liberty Island today) as the location. The project often stalled for funding, and received contributions from many people in France and America. engineering and construction was handled by several people. The final interior work was done by none other than Gustav Eiffel himself. The money for the statue came from several contributors, after a major drive by Joseph Pulitzer which caught people's imagination.

Properly building and setting up the statue took years; it became a project that attracted national interest. Pieces such as the arm and head were exposed to the public before installation. Naturally, there was a big celebration upon its conclusion.

One of the Seven (manmade) Wonders of the World.

!!Tropes it has evoked:

* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: The statue was originally made of shining copper, but the weather turned it green the years. The public liked it that way so much they resisted attempts to restore it.
* BigApplesauce: Can't have UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity without it.
* BreakingTheBonds: At the statue's left foot sits a broken shackle, showing the strength of liberty in defeating tyranny.

* CoolCrown: The Statue of Liberty ironically wears a tiara, showing that the only supreme monarch for America is freedom from monarchs.
* {{Eagleland}}: Type 1; the Statue serves as a symbol for the opportunity America provides and its dedications to preserving human freedom. Even cynics get sentimental about it.
* EiffelTowerEffect: Well, Gustave Eiffel did the engineering for it, so technically it ''is'' an Eiffel Tower. The Statue often serves as an instant metonym for America and New York.
* {{Expy}}:
** The statue itself was likened by Emma Lazarus as a modern version of the [[UsefulNotes/SevenWondersOfTheWorld Colossus of Rhodes]]. With one major difference. The Greek Colossus celebrates conquest, Lady Liberty is a guardian standing by the Golden Door welcoming people to the New World. Incidentally, the Statue of Liberty has outlasted the original Colossus, [[BrieferThanTheyThink which stood for only 54 years]].
** The statue has numerous smaller copies around the world, most famously the one in Las Vegas.
* TheGoodKing: The Statue appropriates imagery associated with monarchs and emperors (the crown, the robes, and the tablet of law) to show that the best ruler for mankind is not a king, but a free people.
* HolyHalo: The statues crown gives off seven rays that act as a type of halo, showing Liberty's divine role in human life.

* AnImmigrantsTale:
** It's an important part of the iconography of the American immigrant due to being one the first part of America a Westerner sailing into Ellis Island would see. It's importance to immigrants would be lionized in Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/TheImmigrant'' and ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII''.
** Emma Lazarus poem specifically made the statue part of the immigrant story. She was an American Jewish poet who had initially refused the offer, but after working with refugees from European pogroms, came to understand what America meant to people who were outcasts of society:
---> '''Paul Auster''': ''"Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but '''The New Colossus''' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world."''

* LightIsGood: The Statue holds a torch to show that freedom is what enlightens the world.

* RedBaron: The poem "The New Colosus," (the one on the plaque) gives her the epithet, [[CapsLock "MOTHER OF EXILES."]]
* RuleOfSeven: In keeping with the theme of sanctity and holiness, there are seven rays coming from the Statue's head, the same as the Biblical number of perfection.
* ShoutOut: Liberty's book has "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" inscribed upon it, referencing the date of the Declaration of Independence.
* TheUnfettered: A broken fetter sits at the statue's right foot and her right foot is raised to show that Liberty is constantly in motion and will not stop until all can be illuminated by her flame.
%%* WeaponizedLandmark: In ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', ''Film/MenInBlackII'' and other stories.
----

--> '''Paul Auster''': ''"Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but '''The New Colossus''' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world."''

-> Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,\\

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

* AfterTheEnd [=/=] AlternateLandmarkHistory: Often seen in these kind of works to show how Man's hubris is ultimately pointless... or give hope that humanity will rise again.
* AnImmigrantsTale: It's an important part of the iconography of the American immigrant as lionized in Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/TheImmigrant'' and ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII''.
** Emma Lazarus poem specifically made the statue part of the immigrant story. She was an American Jewish poet who had initially refused the offer but after working with refugees from European pogroms, came to understand what America meant to people who were outcasts of society:
--> '''Paul Auster''': ''"Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but '''The New Colossus''' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world."''

* {{Eagleland}}: Either version. But mostly version one, even cynics get sentimental about the statue.
* EiffelTowerEffect: Well Gustave Eiffel did the engineering for it, so technically it ''is'' an Eiffel Tower. The Statue often serves as an instant metonym for America and New York.
* {{Expy}}: The statue has numerous smaller copies around the world, most famously the one in Las Vegas.

* [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Green-Skinned Metal Babe]]: The statue was originally made of shining copper, but the weather changed it over the years. The public liked it that way so much they resisted attempts to restore it.
* HumongousMecha: If it's a WeaponisedLandmark, it tends to be this.

* LightIsGood: Lady Liberty holds a torch to show that freedom is what enlightens the world.
* LivingStatue: In many works, most notably ''Film/GhostbustersII''. Or as a [[Series/DoctorWho Weeping]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E5TheAngelsTakeManhattan Angel]].

* MonumentalDamage: The shock value of seeing it damaged or destroyed is enormous, most famously in the original ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968''. It has even been "[[MonumentalTheft stolen]]" on occasion.
* WeaponizedLandmark: In ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', ''Film/MenInBlackII'' and other stories.

'''The Statue of Liberty''' has become such a world-renowned icon that just by seeing it most people instantly realize either where the setting of a story is (UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity) or that it involves America and its ideals in some way.

The statue itself was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi[[note]]He modelled the face on his mother and the body on his wife...make of that what you will[[/note]]. Bartholdi on a visit to America selected Bedloe's Island (known as Liberty Island today) as the location. The project often stalled for funding, and recieved contributions from many people in France and America. engineering and construction was handled by several people. The final interior work was done by none other than Gustav Eiffel himself. The money for the statue came from several contributors, after a major drive by Joseph Pulitzer which caught people's imagination.

A gift from the people of France (to celebrate the parallel fights for freedom of Colonial America and Revolutionary France, and having helped each other many times) the statue sits on a pedestal on Liberty Island, located just off the coast of Manhattan. It is highly visible from Ellis Island, where [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream immigrants to the United States]] used to be processed before entering the country.

* LivingStatue: In many works, most notably ''[[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} Ghostbusters II]]''. Or as a [[Series/DoctorWho Weeping]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E5TheAngelsTakeManhattan Angel]].

* WeaponizedLandmark: In ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', ''[[Film/MenInBlack Men In Black II]]'' and other stories.

A gift from the people of France (to celebrate the parallel fights for freedom of Colonial America and Revolutionary France, and having helped each other many times) the statue sits on a pedestal on Liberty Island, located just off the coast of Manhattan. It is highly visible from Ellis Island, where [[AmericanDream immigrants to the United States]] used to be processed before entering the country.

* AmericanDream: Considered the embodiment of the Dream.
* AnImmigrantsTale: Its an important part of the iconography of the American immigrant as lionized in Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/TheImmigrant'' and ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII''.

The statue itself was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.[[note]]He modelled the face on his mother and the body on his wife...make of that what you will[[/note]]. Bartholdi on a visit to America selected Bedloe's Island (known as Liberty Island today) as the location. The project often stalled for funding, and recieved contributions from many people in France and America. engineering and construction was handled by several people. The final interior work was done by none other than Gustav Eiffel himself. The money for the statue came from several contributors, after a major drive by Joseph Pulitzer which caught people's imagination.

* AmericanDream: Emma Lazarus' poem made it the embodiment of it.

--> '''Paul Auster''':-> ''"Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but '''The New Colossus''' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world."''

A gift from the people of France (to celebrate the parallel fights for freedom of Colonial America and Napoleonic France, and having helped each other many times) the statue sits on a pedestal on Liberty Island, located just off the coast of Manhattan. It is highly visible from Ellis Island, where [[AmericanDream immigrants to the United States]] used to be processed before entering the country.

* AfterTheEnd: Often seen in these kind of works to show how Man's hubris is ultimately pointless... or give hope that humanity will rise again.
* AlternateLandmarkHistory

* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: [[SarcasmMode What do you mean, the FRENCH made it??]]
* {{Eagleland}}, either version.

** The statue itself can be seen as a modern version of the [[UsefulNotes/SevenWondersOfTheWorld Colossus of Rhodes]]. The comparison is embraced by Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus", which now appears on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty (this is the poem which contains the famous "huddled masses" line).
Incidentally, the Statue of Liberty has outlasted the original Colossus, [[BrieferThanTheyThink which stood for only 54 years]].

[[caption-width-right:300:Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...]]

* AmericanDream

** The statue itself can be seen as a modern version of the [[UsefulNotes/SevenWondersOfTheWorld Colossus of Rhodes]]. The comparison is embraced by Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus", which now appears on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty (this is the poem which contains the famous "huddled masses" line). Incidentally, the Statue of Liberty has outlasted the original Colossus, [[BrieferThanTheyThink which stood for only 54 years]].

** The statue itself can be seen as a modern version of the [[UsefulNotes/SevenWondersOfTheWorld Colossus of Rhodes]]. The comparison is embraced by Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus", which now appears on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty (this is the poem which contains the famous "huddled masses" line). Incidentally, the Statue of Liberty has outlasted the original Colossus, [[BrieferThanTheyThink which stood for only 56 years]].