Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Replica of the Statue of Liberty, circa 1900
Unknown Artist and Maker
— (American, Akron, Ohio) —
(American, Akron, Ohio)
Replica of the Statue of Liberty, circa 1900
Galvanized sheet steel and zinc over iron frame
Gift of the Athena-Liberty Lofts, L.P., The Athena group, and Brickman Associates, in honor of the Fire Department of New York, New York police Department, Emergency Medical Services, and the New York State Court Officers and their heroism on September 11, 2001
Perhaps no American symbol is more widely recognized or powerfully expressive than “Liberty Enlightening the World” – the Statue of Liberty. Since 1885, when the 151-foot original created by the French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904) was erected on Bedloe’s Island, the colossal figure has inspired numerous smaller-scale replicas intended to echo the ideas of freedom, tolerance, and opportunity that it embodied for many of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. This thirty-foot replica was commissioned about 1900 by the Russian-born auctioneer William H. Flattau to sit atop his eight-story Liberty warehouse (at 43 West 64th Street), then one of the highest points on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Flattau thus combined his entrepreneurial spirit with pride in the adopted country in which he had prospered. Although squatter in proportion and less gracefully detailed than the massive original, Flattau’s replica retained something of the forceful gravity of expression achieved by Bartholdi.
Newly restored, this “little” Lady Liberty takes its place within the distinguished collection of outdoor sculpture and architectural fragments the Brooklyn Museum began about 1960, in an effort to preserve unique New York City treasures that were increasingly at risk.
The installation of the Museum’s Statue of Liberty replica and the associated conservation project were made possible by the generosity of The Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Charitable Trust. Additional support was given by the New York State Assembly and its Brooklyn Delegation, and John and Diana Herzog
Erected by The Brooklyn Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Statue of Liberty Replicas series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 40° 40.248′ N, 73° 57.836′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Marker is on Eastern Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ionic Capital and Column Base, circa 1901 (here, next to this marker); Four Pairs of Pegasus Figures, 1934 (here, next to this marker); Atlantes Figures, circa 1899 (here, next to this marker); Pilaster Capitals, 1898 (here, next to this marker); Nine Keystones, circa 1924 / "Night", circa 1910 (here, next to this marker); Plaque, circa 1885 (a few steps from this marker); The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Liberty Oaks (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
More about this marker. In the sculpture garden of the Brooklyn Museum.
Also see . . . Little Liberty. "Forgotten New York" entry on the original location. (Submitted on April 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.