Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Cobblestone American History and Current Events for Kids and Children

Although work on Liberty Enlightening the World proceeded on one side of the Atlantic Ocean, efforts to build the pedestal on which it would stand stagnated on the other side. Americans initially showed a reluctance to support the project. The statue was predicted to be so large that some Americans doubted that it would ever be built. Some people also viewed the statue as a New York state project. They did not see it as a national project for the whole country to get behind. By 1877, the American committee that was formed to generate financial support for the pedestal included several hundred prominent men as members. But progress was slow. By 1882, only half of the money needed for the pedestal had been raised. Most of the support came…

When first assembled in the United States in 1886, the Statue of Liberty’s right arm was attached incorrectly. It was misaligned by more than a foot. (It was fixed in 1986.) Until 1916, special visitors were permitted to climb a 40-foot ladder to reach the torch’s balcony. Today, the highest point to which the public can climb is the statue’s crown. The statue’s form is based on the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. It is believed that sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi modeled the statue’s face after his mother’s face. The Statue of Liberty sways on gusty days. In winds greater than 50 miles per hour, the torch can move between five and six inches. Standing as it does out in the harbor surrounded by water, Lady Liberty endures as many as…

Countries give each other gifts for many reasons. Sometimes leaders want to build a better relationship. Sometimes they’re simply saying, “thank you.” FIELDS OF FLOWERS In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands. Dutch princess Juliana and her two daughters fled to Canada. They lived safely in that nation’s capital, Ottawa, for the rest of World War II (1939–1945). The princess had a third daughter during her stay. In 1945, Canada helped to defeat the Nazis and liberate the Netherlands. To show their thanks for giving safe refuge to their royal family, the Dutch sent tens of thousands of tulip bulbs to Ottawa. The Netherlands is famous for its colorful tulips, and the gift became an annual tradition. The tulips are all shades of pink and purple—Princess Juliana’s favorite colors. PANDA…

SPOTLIGHT ON... The Statue of Liberty has become synonymous to some people as a symbol of immigration to the United States. But the island in New York Harbor that is a true source of immigration information is Ellis Island. Along with Liberty Island, Ellis Island is managed by the National Park Service as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Ellis Island is home to the National Museum of Immigration, which is a restored original building that was used to process more than 12 million immigrants over three decades. From a re-created Baggage Room to a renovated Registry Room and Hearing Room, visitors can get a feel for what immigrants experienced more than 100 years ago. The three-floor museum also includes exhibits that share the broader story of immigration…

We’re looking for a funny caption for this photo. Send your idea, name, and address in an email to COBBLESTONE at cobblestone@cricketmedia.com. Include a note from a parent or a legal guardian clearly stating: “This is my child’s original work, and COBBLESTONE has permission to publish it with my child’s name, age, and hometown, in print and online.” We will include a selection of captions in a future issue of the magazine. January Winners!…

To mark America’s 100th birthday, Congress voted to hold a Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1876. The Statue of Liberty still was under construction in France, but the 42-foot right arm, which held the torch, was finished. The French organizers decided to send it to the exposition to help raise money for the statue and its pedestal. Workers dismantled the torch’s 21 copper-clad sections and packed them into 21 wooden crates for the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. When the crates arrived at Fairmount Park—the site of the exposition—in August 1876, the arm was reassembled, and a ticket booth was constructed around the base. By some estimates, as many as 10 million people visited the Philadelphia fair during its six-month run. The Statue of Liberty’s arm became one of…

After its dedication in 1886, the Statue of Liberty quickly become a national treasure and an international symbol of freedom. So, when the statue’s centennial neared in 1986, Americans wanted to celebrate it. A foundation was formed to raise money to help the National Park Service (NPS) restore and preserve it. The NPS is the federal agency responsible for the statue and the maintenance of its island home. In 1984, the statue was closed to the public for two years. Experts from the United States and France worked with the NPS to develop a plan. Scaffolding was erected both around the outside and on the inside of the colossal statue. When Lady Liberty was new, the statue was the red-brown color of a penny. But the copper skin had soon…

DR. D’S MYSTERY HERO In June 1885, 214 wooden cases sat in the harbor in New York City. They contained the pieces of the Statue of Liberty. The statue was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. But there was a problem. The French had expected Americans to provide a pedestal for their gift. Fundraising for the pedestal had stalled, and the U.S. government was unwilling to spend the money. This month’s mystery heroes helped solve the problem. Journalist Joseph Pulitzer owned a newspaper called the New York World. He wrote an editorial, in which he promised to print in his newspaper the names of anyone who donated money—in any amount—to the statue’s pedestal. The fundraising campaign was a huge success because people…

Harbor seals are a common marine mammal. They can be found swimming, sunbathing, and eating throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. The western North Atlantic members of this species generally summer off the coast of Maine. In winter, they head south to “warmer” waters. When the weather warms again, they return to the coast of Maine to give birth to and raise their pups, who can swim within minutes of being born! Wherever they are, harbor seals tend to stick close to coastlines. They like to rest on rocky outcrops and sunbathe on sandy shores in their classic “banana” position (head and rear flippers in the air). They survive on fish, crabs, and shellfish. These creatures—averaging in size of about 5 to 6 feet long and 200 pounds—have been spotted popping…

An Image for the Future Standing so proud, so tall, torch in hand shedding light for all—an image for the future. Old and wise, brave and tall, big in size—an image for the future. Kind to all, welcoming immigrants, she will not fall—the Statue of Liberty. Naomi Kenney, age 15 Raceland, Louisiana Dear Readers, Draw a picture or write a poem or a short essay that connects to a U.S. history topic that interests you. All contributions must be your original work. Include a note from a parent or a legal guardian clearly stating: “This is my child’s original work, and COBBLESTONE has permission to publish it with my child’s name, age, and hometown, in print and online.” We will include as many as we can in an upcoming issue.…