Last updated: November 8, 2024
Article
Liberty Island Cultural Landscape
NPS
Designing an Icon
Liberty Island draws more than four million visitors annually, many from across the globe, making it one of the most iconic historic sites in the United States. The inspiration for the Statue of Liberty emerged at the end of the American Civil War, when Édouard de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and supporter of President Abraham Lincoln, proposed a monument to represent America’s commitment to freedom and democracy.
De Laboulaye enlisted the help of his friend and sculptor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, to design what would become the Statue of Liberty. Earlier, Bartholdi had nearly completed the design of an enormous statue of a torch-bearing woman in Egypt, marking the entrance to the Suez Canal as an aid to navigation, but a lack of funds stopped him from making it a reality.
...Liberty Island is obviously destined to be made into a pleasureground for the soul of the American people, a place of pilgrimage for citizens of the whole nation...
Image credit: NPS
With de Laboulaye’s project, Bartholdi had another opportunity to bring his vision to life. In September 1875, they formed the Franco-American Union to raise funds for their monument—a robed woman holding a torch, which they named “Liberty Enlightening the World."
The Statue of Liberty came to symbolize more than just Franco-American relations and the abstract ideals of freedom. It became a powerful beacon of hope for millions of immigrants seeking a better life in America. This meaning was deepened in 1903 when Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus,” was inscribed on a plaque affixed to the base of the statue, capturing the spirit of welcome and opportunity that it represented.
Photographer Pierre Petit. Library of Congress.
Currier & Ives, 1883. Library of Congress.
Emma Lazarus wrote her poem in 1883, decades before it was inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, to raise funds for the statue and protest the strict anti-immigration laws being enacted at the time. Her poem earned the statue the nickname “The Mother of Exiles,” confirming its status as an iconic symbol of freedom. Today, the Statue of Liberty is celebrated worldwide, not only for its beautiful design but for the values it represents.
For much of the 1800s, most immigrants to the United States had arrived at Castle Garden, located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. However, during a period of mass migration from 1892 to 1954, over 12 million immigrants passed by the Statue of Liberty on their way to be processed at nearby Ellis Island before forging their new homes in America.
The cultural landscape of Liberty Island is significant for several reasons. It is home to the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, which has been a symbol of freedom since its dedication in 1886. Additionally, it's history showcases early National Park Service master planning for historic and cultural sites from 1924, when the Statue of Liberty National Monument was established, to 1957 when the National Park Service completed implementing its master plan, transforming the former Fort Wood military post into a park-like setting for the statue. Liberty Island holds national significance under National Register of Historic Places Criterion A for its contributions to Politics/Government, Social History, and Conservation as well as Criterion C for Art, Architecture, and Engineering. The Statue of Liberty, which includes the copper statue, its pedestal, and the Fort Wood walls, stands as one of the most important symbols of American identity.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
History
In the late 1870s and early 1880s, de Laboulaye and Bartholdi traveled to the United States to scout the best location for the statue. Upon arriving in the bustling New York Harbor by ship, Bartholdi immediately knew he wanted to place the statue on Bedloe Island. This small island, located near the mouth of the Hudson River, was originally settled by three federally recognized Lenape Nations, the Stockbridge Munsee Community of Wisconsin-Band of Mohicans, the Delaware Nation, and the Delaware Tribe of Indians who used the island for fishing and harvesting oysters. In the early 1600s, as Europeans began colonizing the area, a Dutchman named Isaac Bedloe received a grant for the island, which is how it got the name, “Bedloe’s Island.”
Over the years, Bedloe Island passed from the Dutch to the English and eventually to the United States in 1738 when New York City took control of the island and used it as a quarantine station. During the American Revolution, the island was repurposed as an asylum for Tory sympathizers—American colonists loyal to Great Britain. After the Revolution, the island became a military fort. Despite its military use, President Ulysses S. Grant approved Bedloe’s Island as the site for the statue in 1877.
Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress
While Bartholdi focused on the statue's overall design, creating the supporting metal framework required architectural and engineering expertise. Initially, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc took on this role, but when he unexpectedly passed away in 1879, engineer Gustave Eiffel stepped in to continue the work. American architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the masonry pedestal which stood within the existing masonry fort. In 1884 the copper statue was completed and fully assembled in Paris, where it was presented to the United States Ambassador, who enthusiastically endorsed the design.
of the star fort, which had been lost to the pedestal and statue, c. 1921.
National Archives, RG 111, 46552
The statue was then disassembled into 350 pieces and shipped to the United States. Once it arrived, it was reassembled on Bedloe’s Island and unveiled to the public in 1886, honoring French-American relations and the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution. Together, the fort, pedestal, and statue stand an impressive 305 feet tall.
From 1886 to 1902, the statue was managed by the United States Lighthouse Board, and afterward, it came under the Army's oversight. By 1906, the once-bright copper statue had developed a sea-green patina due to natural oxidation. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge officially designated the Statue of Liberty as a national monument, solidifying its place in American history.
Library of Congress
NPS / Statue of Liberty National Monument, Bob Hope Library
In 1933, the National Park Service (NPS) took over the maintenance of the Statue of Liberty. By 1937, they also gained control of the rest of the 14-acre Bedloe’s Island. The following year, work began on redesigning the island, funded through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The new master plan prioritized the visitor experience, ensuring that the statue remained the focal point of the island. It carefully organized the design to minimize distractions, guiding visitors in a way that would evoke a powerful emotional response as they approached the statue.
The most important element of this redesign relocated the ferry dock from the east side of the island to the west, which required boats to pass before the statue prior to docking. The redesign also featured symmetrical plantings around the statue, minimal furnishings, and simple architectural details, all intended to draw visitors’ attention to the statue and encourage them to reflect on their personal liberty without distractions. Inspired by Beaux-Arts principles, the layout emphasized geometry and centered around two intersecting axes that created stunning views of the statue. In 1956, an act of Congress officially renamed Bedloe's Island to Liberty Island, further confirming its significance as a symbol of freedom.
The most important element of this redesign relocated the ferry dock from the east side of the island to the west, which required boats to pass before the statue prior to docking. The redesign also featured symmetrical plantings around the statue, minimal furnishings, and simple architectural details, all intended to draw visitors’ attention to the statue and encourage them to reflect on their personal liberty without distractions. Inspired by Beaux-Arts principles, the layout emphasized geometry and centered around two intersecting axes that created stunning views of the statue. In 1956, an act of Congress officially renamed Bedloe's Island to Liberty Island, further confirming its significance as a symbol of freedom.
Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress
Landscape Description
Today, visitors reach Liberty Island by ferry from New York City or New Jersey, after going through airport-style security screening. Once they arrive at the dock on the western side of the island, they walk along the Arrival Mall, flanked with plane trees leading them to the Flag Plaza, a large, circular area featuring a flagpole at its center. The Flag Plaza provides a beautiful view of the harbor and serves as a key intersection between the Arrival Mall and the Main Mall, welcoming visitors to explore the island further.
NPS
As visitors stroll down the Main Mall, they pass manicured lawns and additional administrative buildings, eventually arriving at the Statue of Liberty in the southern part of the island. The statue towers at 152 feet atop a massive 10-story granite pedestal, situated in the center of the star-shaped Fort Wood. This iconic figure depicts a crowned woman in flowing robes, holding a torch high in her right hand while cradling a tablet in her left arm. The tablet is inscribed with "JULY IV, MDCCLXXVI," marking the date of American Independence Day, July 4th, 1776.
Visitors with ticketed reservations access the pedestal after being subjected to secondary security screening in a small freestanding building immediately east of the star fort. Inside the pedestal, transparent ceiling panels allow guests to admire the statue's intricate interior design. A spiral staircase leads up to the crown, where small windows provide stunning views of Liberty Island and the mainland. An outdoor observation deck allows visitors to step outside and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of both New York and New Jersey.
In 2019, the new Statue of Liberty Museum opened to the public. Situated at the northern end of the island, its unique pointed design complements Fort Wood, framing both sides of the Main Mall. The museum’s design invites visitors to climb a grand staircase that leads to a rooftop terrace. From the top, guests can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, the surrounding area, and the urban skyline beyond.
NPS / Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
Points of interest are outlined in yellow, and the main walking path is marked by a white line.
1. Statue of Liberty
2. Fort Wood
3. Service Dock
4. Arrival Ferry Dock
5. Arrival Mall
6. Main Mall
7. Flag Pole Circle
8. Musuem
9. Administration
10. Cafe & Bookstore
11. Gift Shop
1. Statue of Liberty
2. Fort Wood
3. Service Dock
4. Arrival Ferry Dock
5. Arrival Mall
6. Main Mall
7. Flag Pole Circle
8. Musuem
9. Administration
10. Cafe & Bookstore
11. Gift Shop
NPS
Landscape Stewardship
While Liberty Island faces ongoing challenges, including pollution, vandalism, the threat of terrorism, and damage from severe weather, the National Park Service and its partner organizations remain steadfast in their commitment to preserving and maintaining this treasured World Heritage Site. Their efforts include documenting landscape development through a Cultural Landscape Report, carefully inventorying, pruning, and replacing trees as needed, rehabilitating lawns, and restoring infrastructure in response to storms and heavy visitor use.
In caring for Liberty Island, the National Park Service and its partners strive not only to protect the physical integrity of the island but also to honor its symbolic significance as a beacon of freedom and democracy for generations to come.
Digital Models of Liberty Island Landscape, Oblique View (1937 and 1922)
Left image
1937 Digital Model of Liberty Island, Oblique View
Credit: NPS / Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
Right image
2022 Digital Model of Liberty Island, Oblique View
Credit: NPS / Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
Historical Designation Facts
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Cultural Landscape Type: Historic Site & Designed
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National Register Significance Type: National
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National Register Significance Criteria: A & C
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Periods of Significance:
A: 1924 - 1957
C: 1886 - Present
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World Heritage Site
NPS / Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation