At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, a 46-inch model of the Statue of Liberty symbolizes liberty rather than immigration, as originally proposed in 1865. While Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” later redefined Lady Liberty as a welcoming figure for immigrants, significant immigration restrictions began with the 1924 Johnson-Reed Act, limiting entry from non-Western European nations.
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Summary
The Statue of Liberty, originally symbolizing liberty rather than immigration, was proposed in 1865 and took over two decades to realize, with its significance evolving through poet Emma Lazarus’s words that welcomed immigrants, especially as the first immigration facility opened at Ellis Island in 1892.
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