The Statue of Liberty, officially named Liberty Enlightening the World, is a monument symbolizing the United States, and is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. It welcomes visitors, immigrants and returning Americans travelling by ship. For many years, it was one of the first glances of the United States for millions of immigrants and visitors after returning from ocean voyages.

A sculptor by the name of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue, and Gustave Eiffel (the man who designed the Eiffel Tower) was responsible for the iron framework underneath the copper plating. It is placed near the entrance to New York City harbor, on a small island known as Liberty Island.

The statue is of a woman with a book in one hand and a torch held high in her other hand. It stands on the top of a giant pedestal. The entire structure is 305 feet (93 m) tall from the ground to the tip of the torch. The statue is the central part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, administered by the National Park Service. The National Monument also includes Ellis Island.

The Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated and unveiled on October 28, 1886. A million people attended the parade and other festivities that were held that day to celebrate the event.

In October 1924, the Statue of Liberty became a national monument, and in 1982 it was restored at a cost of $ 87 million. Two years later, in 1984, the monument was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

GLOSSARY

liberty [ˈlɪbɪti] – szabadság
monument [ˈmɒnjʊmənt] – emlékmű
to symbolize [tə ˈsɪmbəlaɪz] – szimbolizál
recognizable [ˈrekəɡnaɪzəbəl] – felismerhető
glance [ɡlɑːns] – pillantás
voyage [ˈvɔɪɪdʒ] – hajóút
sculptor [ˈskʌlptə] – szobrász
to design [tə dɪˈzaɪn] – tervez
responsible for [rɪˈspɒnsəbəl fɔː] – felelős valamiért
iron framework [ˈaɪən ˈfreɪmwɜːk] – vas szerkezet
underneath [ˌʌndəˈniːθ] – alatt
copper plating [ˈkɒpə ˈpleɪtɪŋ] – réz bevonat
to be placed [tə bi ˈpleɪst] – el van helyezve
torch [tɔːtʃ] – fáklya
held high [held haɪ] – magasra tartott
pedestal [ˈpedɪstəl] – talapzat
structure [ˈstrʌktʃə] – szerkezet
tip [tɪp] – valaminek a csúcsa
to be administered [tə bi ədˈmɪnɪstəd] – igazgat, intéz
to include [tə ɪnˈkluːd] – magába foglal
to commemorate [tə kəˈmeməreɪt] – megemlékezik
signing of … [ˈsaɪnɪŋ ɒv… ] – valaminek az aláírása
Declaration of Independence [ˌdekləˈreɪʃən əv ˌɪndɪˈpendəns] – Függetlenségi Nyilatkozat
to represent [təˌriːprɪˈzent] – képvisel
to be established [tə bi ɪˈstæblɪʃt] – létre van hozva
revolution [ˌrevəˈluːʃən] – forradalom
freedom [ˈfriːdəm] – szabadság
to be sponsored by [tə bi ˈspɒnsəd baɪ] – fizetve, szponzorálva , támogatva lenni
ordinary [ˈɔːdɪnri] – átlagos
citizen [ˈsɪtɪzən] – állmpolgár
to raise money     [tə reɪz ˈmʌni] – pénzt gyűjteni
construction [kənˈstrʌkʃən] – építés, építkezés
to be completed [tə bi kəmˈpliːtɪd] – befejezve lenni
crew [kruː] – brigád
round the clock [raʊnd ðə ˈklɒk] – napi 24 órában
various [ˈveərɪəs] – különböző
to be on display [tə bi ɒn dɪˈspleɪ] – kiállítva lenni
to be broken down into … [tə bi ˈbrəʊkən daʊn ˈɪntə… ] – … részre törve lenni
crate [kreɪt] – láda
to ship [tə ʃɪp] – szállít
to put back together [tə ˈpʊt bæk təˈɡeðə] – újra összeállítani
officially [əˈfɪʃəli] – hivatalosan
to be dedicated [tə bi ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd] – felszentelve lenni
to be unveiled [tə bi ˌʌnˈveɪld] – leleplezve lenni
to attend [tu əˈtend] – részt vesz valamin
festivity [feˈstɪvɪti] – ünnepség
to celebrate [tə ˈselɪbreɪt] – ünnepel
event [ɪˈvent] – esemény
to be restored [tə bi rɪˈstɔːd] – felújít, helyreállít
World Heritage [wɜːld ˈherɪtɪdʒ] – Világörökség
United Nations [juːˈnaɪtɪd ˈneɪʃənz] – ENSZ