“Mother of Exiles”

Between 1886 and 1924, 14 million immigrants entered America through New York. The Statue of Liberty was a reassuring sign that they had arrived in the land of their dreams. To these anxious newcomers, the Statue’s uplifted torch did not suggest “enlightenment,” as her creators intended, but rather, “welcome.” Over time, the Statue of Liberty emerged as Emma Lazarus’ “Mother of Exiles,” a symbol of hope to generations of immigrants.

Bayonne, New Jersey · United States