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Statue of Liberty Dedication Day

History · October 28

A day for the Statue of Liberty, the copper figure in New York Harbor, and the moment she was formally dedicated to the public.

Statue of Liberty Dedication Day falls on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. That is tomorrow.

The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, holding a torch up in her right hand and a tablet in her left. This day marks her dedication, the formal moment the statue was presented and opened to the public as a landmark.

She was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. The sculptor was Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and the iron framework inside was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose name later went on a rather famous tower. The outer skin is thin copper, which is why she is green. The metal started out a reddish brown and weathered over time into the pale blue-green patina people now picture when they think of her.

The tablet carries a date in Roman numerals, and broken chains lie at her feet, a detail that is easy to miss from the ferry. Her crown has seven rays. A poem by Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus," is mounted on a plaque inside, with its lines about the huddled masses.

People mark the day by reading about her history, looking at old photographs of her construction, or visiting if they are close enough to take the boat out. From the water, she looks larger than expected, and the torch catches the light first.

Ways to celebrate

• Read "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus aloud.
• Look up photos of the statue being assembled.
• Find the broken chains at her feet in a close-up image.
• Sketch the statue's outline, crown rays included.

Dates

All national days on October 28

Also on October 28

• National Chocolate Day
• Plush Animal Lover's Day
• International Animation Day

Categories: History days