The Statue of Liberty is located on a 0.05 square kilometer island in the middle of New York City Harbor. It was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and was a gift of international friendship from the people of France as a monument to the centenary of the United States in 1876. It is 46 meters high and stands on a granite base on the walls of a star-shaped pillar. It was completed and opened on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue of Liberty has now become one of the universal symbols of freedom and democracy around the world. The ship departs from Battery Park City and travels to Liberty Island, where you can see the Statue of Liberty up close, visit a museum, and explore more. The audio guide on the island is free. From Liberty Island we then go to Ellis Island. You can visit the different buildings where the immigrants came through and see what it was like for them. Finally we take the ship back to Manhattan.