Far from New York stands a sister. This Freiheitsstatue in Muenster is not as famous but carries its own story. It stands as a beacon. It represents a unique connection. What makes this statue special? Let’s find out together.
The Freiheitsstatue embodies ideals. These include liberty, peace, human rights, the abolition of slavery, democracy, and opportunity. UNESCO recognizes it as a masterpiece. It inspires debate and contemplation.
This is a small copy of the famous Statue of Liberty. The original stands in New York City. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi designed both statues. France gifted the original to the United States in 1886. It symbolized their friendship.
Now picture Bartholdi in his Paris workshop. He carefully crafted the original statue. This statue represents Libertas. She is the Roman goddess of freedom. The statue holds a torch. It lights the world. The statue has a tablet. It shows the date of American Independence.
Did you know there are five Freiheitsstatuen in Paris? They differ in size. However, they all resemble the New York statue. One stands on the Ile aux Cygnes. It faces towards its larger sister in New York Harbor.
The statue is more than just metal and stone. It represents the enduring friendship between France and the United States. Friends of Emma Lazarus put a plaque. It features her poem The New Colossus.
The Franko-American Union was founded. It collected funds for the statue. The French financed the statue. Americans funded the pedestal. The statue’s official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
The torch was not always so bright. Initially, people could barely see it at night. Bartholdi suggested gilding the statue. This would improve light reflection. The cost proved too high.
Also consider the seven rays of the crown. They symbolize the seven continents and seas. The statue stands on a base shaped like an eleven-pointed star.
The copper skin is very thin. It is only 2.4 millimeters thick. Gustave Eiffel designed the internal structure. He also designed the Eiffel Tower.
As we conclude our visit here, remember the Freiheitsstatue in Muenster. This Freiheitsstatue connects Muenster to the world. It embodies the quest for freedom.