Statue of Liberty Inscription

The Statue of Liberty Inscription, “The New Colossus,” was written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 and then made into a bronze plaque placed inside the Statue of Liberty.

The New Colossus – Statue of Liberty Inscription

The original handwritten sonnet is sometimes on display at the American Jewish Historical Society.

Statue of Liberty Inscription – The New Colossus

"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 breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

– Emma Lazarus, 1883

American Jewish Historical Society

Founded in 1892, AJHS is the oldest national ethnic historical organization in the nation. AJHS is one of five partner organizations at The Center for Jewish History in Manhattan and has a branch at Hebrew College in Boston.

Learn More About Emma Lazarus

The Emma Lazarus Project is a three year multi-faceted initiative that explores the story of Emma Lazarus, a fifth-generation American Jew caught in an important turning point in American and Jewish History.

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Nearby Attractions: Wall Street, Financial District, City Hall, South Street Seaport, Battery Park City

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Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Edge or Summit? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.

• Empire State Building – (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
• Top of the Rock – (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
• One World Observatory – (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
• Edge – (100-101 floors) Highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)
• Summit One Vanderbilt – (91-93 floors) All glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building

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