自由女神像英语介绍

2016-11-08

自由女神像英语介绍

Out of all of America's symbols, none has proved more enduring or evocative than theStatue of Liberty. This giant figure, torch in hand and clutching a stone tablet, has for acentury acted as a figurehead for the American Dream; indeed there is probably no moreimmediately recognizable profile in existence. It's worth remembering that the statue is - forAmericans at least - a potent reminder that the USA is a land of immigrants: it was New YorkHarbor where the first big waves of European immigrants arrived, their ships entering throughthe Verrazano Narrows to round the bend of the bay and catch a first glimpse of "LibertyEnlightening the World" - an end of their journey into the unknown, and the symbolicbeginning of a new life.

These days, although only the very wealthy can afford to arrive here by sea, and a would-beimmigrant's first (and possibly last) view of the States is more likely to be the customs checkat JFK Airport, Liberty remains a stirring sight, with Emma Lazarus's poem, The New Colossus,written originally to raise funds for the statue's base, no less quotable than when it waswritten……

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whoseflame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin citiesframe. "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 to your teemingshore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

The statue, which depicts Liberty throwing off her shackles and holding a beacon to lightthe world, was the creation of the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who crafted it ahundred years after the American Revolution in recognition of solidarity between the Frenchand American people (though it's fair to add that Bartholdi originally intended the statue forAlexandria in Egypt). Bartholdi built Liberty in Paris between 1874 and 1884, starting with aterracotta model and enlarging it through four successive versions to its present size, aconstruction of thin copper sheets bolted together and supported by an iron frameworkdesigned by Gustave Eiffel. The arm carrying the torch was exhibited in Madison Square Parkfor seven years, but the whole statue wasn't officially accepted on behalf of the Americanpeople until 1884, after which it was taken apart, crated up and shipped to New York.

It was to be another two years before it could be properly unveiled: money had to becollected to fund the construction of the base, and for some reason Americans wereunwilling - or unable - to dip into their pockets. Only through the campaigning efforts ofnewspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer, a keen supporter of the statue, did it all come togetherin the end. Richard Morris Hunt built a pedestal around the existing star-shaped Fort Wood,and Liberty was formally dedicated by President Cleveland on October 28, 1886, in a flag-waving shindig that has never really stopped. The statue was closed for a few years in the mid-1980s for extensive renovation and, in 1986, fifteen million people descended on Manhattanfor the statue's centennial celebrations.

Today you can climb steps up to the crown, but the cramped stairway though the torchsadly remains closed to the public. Don't be surprised if there's an hour-long wait to ascend.Even if there is, Liberty Park's views of the lower Manhattan skyline, the twin towers of theWorld Trade Center lording it over the jutting teeth of New York's financial quarter, arespectacular enough.

自由女神像游览景观

观光的游人从铜像底部乘电梯直达基座顶端，然后沿着女神像内部的171级盘旋式阶梯登上顶部的冠冕处。为了方便游人，每隔三节旋梯就设置一些休息座，供不能一口气登顶的游客小憩。冠冕处可同时容纳40人观览，四周开有25个小铁窗，每个窗口高约1米。通过窗口向外远眺，东边可见有“钢铁巴比伦”之称的曼哈顿岛上高楼大厦林立;南边的纽约湾一望无际，波光船影相映;北边的哈得逊河逶迤伸向远方。从冠冕处向右还可登上铜像右臂高处的火炬底部，这里可容纳12人凭窗远望，9.11袭击后因顾及安全暂停了开放，直到2009年5月才再次对外开放。塑像的基座是一个大厅，1972年美国联邦政府将其辟为移民博物馆。馆内设有电影院，为游客放映美国早期移民生活的影片。从市区到自由岛之间，每隔半小时有一班轮渡，来往非常方便。