This tall statue stands on an island in New York Harbor. She is the Statue of Liberty.
Key idea
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France in 1886. She holds up a torch to welcome people.
Why it works
France and the United States were friends, and the people of France sent the statue as a gift of friendship and freedom. Long ago, many families came to America on ships. When they sailed into New York Harbor, the statue was one of the first things they saw: her torch held high, as if to say "Welcome."
Common mistake
Is the statue painted green? No! She is made of thin sheets of copper, a metal that was shiny brown at first. Over many years of wind and rain, the copper turned green by itself.