Liberty Island in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The New Colossus

A Sonnet to the Statue of Liberty

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2022

1. The New Colossus Marker

Inscription. Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, your homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This tablet, with her sonnet to the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty engraved upon it, is placed upon these walls in loving memory of Emma Lazarus. Born in New York City, July 22nd, 1849. Died November 19th, 1887.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Women. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks, and the ASM International Historical Landmarks series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1864.

Location. 40° 41.365′ N, 74° 2.667′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is on Liberty Island. It can be

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reached from the intersection of no nearby street and State Street. The marker is located within the building beneath the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty Pedestal (within shouting distance of this marker); Edouard Rene De Laboulaye (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Pulitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); Emma Lazarus (within shouting distance of this marker); Copper for the Statue of Liberty (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Island (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Wood (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding The New Colossus. In 2005, and again in 2022, visitors were permitted into the pedestal of the statue, but restricted from entering the statue itself, due to security concerns or Coronavirus pandemic.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for Emma Lazarus. (Submitted on December 2, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Photographed by F. Robby, July 27, 2005

2. The New Colossus Marker

Photographed by Volker Schmidt, May 2010

3. The New Colossus Marker

This bronze plaque was presented by philanthropist Georgiana Schuyler in 1903, twenty years after Emma Lazarus wrote her sonnet. Originally displayed on the interior wall of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, it was placed in this exhibit in July, 1986. (the exhibit inside the pedestal)

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2022

4. The New Colossus Marker

Emma Lazarus image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Kurtz, c.1880

5. Emma Lazarus

Emma Lazarus wrote "The New Colossus" as a donation to help raise funds for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. Photo credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, William Kurtz Collection, Reproduction number LC-USZ62-53145.

Statue of Liberty image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, July 27, 2005

6. Statue of Liberty

View of the statue from the Liberty Island Ferry.

Photographed by F. Robby, July 27, 2005

7. Statue of Liberty

Closer view of the statue from the island.

Statue Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, July 27, 2005

8. Statue Interior

Looking up into the interior of the statue from the pedestal, the highest point permitted to visitors in the time of the photo. The copper form can be seen through the framed structure.

Photographed by F. Robby, July 26, 2005

9. Statue Interior

The spiral stairs that climb the interior of the statue.

The Torch of Liberty image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive, December 11, 2015

10. The Torch of Liberty

At the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Historical Register of the Centennial Exposition, 1876, page 239.

International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark - 1966 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grace Corpuz, November 15, 2009

11. International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark - 1966

American Society of Civil Engineers and Société des Ingéniteurs et Scientifiques de France.
"Praise to Monsieur Eiffel with grateful thanks from the Statue of Liberty who owes him her skeleton of iron," Bartholdi.

American Society for Metals Historical Landmark - 1986 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grace Corpuz, November 15, 2009

12. American Society for Metals Historical Landmark - 1986

"This symbol of freedom represents an exceptional engineering and metallurgical innovation in its use of copper and steel in the original design and construction in 1886 and in the restoration in 1986."

ASCE and ASM Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2022

13. ASCE and ASM Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,799 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on April 30, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on June 1, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on December 2, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on April 30, 2011, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. 4. submitted on June 1, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on December 2, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 10. submitted on December 7, 2023, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 11, 12. submitted on February 14, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 13. submitted on June 1, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.