Lady Liberty and Her Little Sisters

Travel Guide: Lady Liberty and Her Little Sisters Across America

A Quarter Miles Travel Companion Guide

For travelers inspired by Lady Liberty’s story, there’s more to explore than just New York Harbor. From the towering original to the smaller replicas placed across America by the Boy Scouts of America, these monuments offer a fascinating journey through American history, civic pride, and community spirit.

Think of this guide as a “Liberty Trail” — where each stop reveals a different chapter of the story.

Stop 1: The Original – Statue of Liberty, New York

Statue of Liberty – Liberty Island, New York

No Liberty journey begins anywhere else.

Dedicated in 1886, the statue titled Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift from France celebrating American independence, the abolition of slavery, and the friendship between the two nations.

What to Experience

• Pedestal Museum – tells the story of the statue’s construction and symbolism

• Original Torch Exhibit – the original torch replaced during the 1986 restoration

• Crown Climb – 354 steps to the crown’s 25 windows overlooking the harbor

• Fort Wood – the star-shaped military fort beneath the pedestal built before the War of 1812

Traveler Tip

Ferries depart from Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Crown access tickets sell out weeks ahead.

Stop 2: Ellis Island – The Immigration Story

Ellis Island

Just a short ferry ride away lies the gateway through which more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States between 1892 and 1954.

For many of them, Lady Liberty was the first sight of America.

What to See

• Ellis Island National Immigration Museum

• Registry Room (“Great Hall”) where immigrants were processed

• Family history research center

Don’t Miss

Look out the harbor windows — you’ll see the Statue of Liberty standing watch.

Stop 3: Atlanta – Georgia’s Little Sister of Liberty

???? Georgia State Capitol

Standing near Liberty Plaza is one of the Boy Scouts’ 1951 Liberty replicas.

At about 8½ feet tall, it’s part of the nationwide “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty” project that placed more than 200 statues across America.

Why It’s Special

This statue reminds visitors that patriotism and civic pride were central themes during the early Cold War era when the project launched.

Stop 4: Overland Park, Kansas – A Schoolyard Liberty

Shawnee Mission North High School

Kansas once had 26 of the Little Sister statues.

One still stands at this high school campus, greeting students each day — a daily reminder of civic ideals.

Interesting Note

Many of these statues were donated by local Scout troops and installed during community dedication ceremonies in the early 1950s.

Stop 5: Lincoln, Nebraska – Liberty in a Veterans Garden

Antelope Park – Veterans Memorial Garden

Dedicated in 1951, Lincoln’s Little Sister of Liberty has moved several times but now stands in a peaceful memorial garden honoring American service members.

Unique Detail

A time capsule placed at the statue’s original dedication was moved along with the monument through the years.

Stop 6: Mackinac Island, Michigan – Liberty in a Historic Resort Town

Downtown Mackinac Island

This Little Sister statue sits in one of America’s most charming historic destinations — a place where cars are banned and horse-drawn carriages still roam the streets.

Travel Bonus

Combine your visit with:

• Mackinac Island State Park

• Fort Mackinac

• The island’s famous fudge shops

Stop 7: Paragould, Arkansas – Liberty as a War Memorial

Greene County Courthouse Square

This statue became one of the first replicas used as a memorial to fallen soldiers, honoring local service members who died in World War I.

It shows how communities adapted Liberty’s meaning to their own history.

Stop 8: Washington, D.C. – The Newest Sister from France

French Ambassador’s Residence

In 2021, France sent a 10-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty to the United States on loan.

The statue sailed across the Atlantic, passed her “big sister” in New York Harbor, visited Ellis Island, and now stands in Washington until 2031.

It was created using the same 1878 plaster model sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi used to design the original statue.

Fun Liberty Travel Facts

Here are a few things to watch for when visiting Lady Liberty or her replicas:

• The original statue’s copper skin is only about two pennies thick• She can sway up to three inches in strong winds• Lightning strikes the statue hundreds of times each year• Her crown’s seven rays represent the seven seas and continents• She is stepping forward — symbolizing progress toward liberty

Plan Your Own Liberty Trail

If you want to turn this into a travel adventure, here’s a simple Liberty Road Trip idea:

New York City – Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island↓Washington, D.C. – French replica↓Atlanta – Georgia State Capitol replica↓Arkansas / Kansas / Nebraska – Little Sisters across the Midwest↓Michigan – Mackinac Island Liberty

Each stop tells a different part of the story.

Why This Journey Matters

The Statue of Liberty is more than a monument.

She is an idea. And through the Boy Scouts’ “Little Sisters of Liberty,” that idea spread far beyond New York Harbor — into neighborhoods, parks, schools, and town squares across the nation.

Different sizes. Same message. Liberty belongs everywhere.

• Atlanta, Georgia – State Capitol

• Overland Park, Kansas – Shawnee Mission North High School

• Lincoln, Nebraska – Antelope Park

• Paragould, Arkansas – Courthouse Square

• Pine Bluff & Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Cheyenne, Wyoming

• New Castle, Pennsylvania

• Mackinac Island, Michigan

• Washington, D.C. – 2021 French replica

• Kansas roadside replica area

Liberty isn’t just in New York Harbor, she’s scattered across the American landscape.

Ready for a scavenger hunt to find other Little Sisters? Find a “Little Sister of Liberty” A Quarter Miles Travel Scavenger Hunt Guide Travel With Annita Listener Adventure

Across America, more than 200 smaller replicas of the Statue of Liberty were placed in communities by the Boy Scouts of America between 1949 and 1952 as part of their patriotic campaign “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.”

Today, more than a hundred of these statues still exist — quietly standing in parks, courthouse lawns, schoolyards, and town squares.

This scavenger hunt turns your travels into a fun discovery mission: find the Little Sisters of Liberty scattered across the country.

How the Liberty Scavenger Hunt Works

When you visit a Little Sister statue, see if you can check off the following:

✅ Take a photo with the statue✅ Find the dedication plaque✅ Look for the crown spikes and torch✅ Measure or estimate the statue height✅ Learn the story of why your town installed it✅ Share your photo using #LittleSistersOfLiberty

Bonus points if you discover when the statue was dedicated — many were installed between 1949 and 1952.

Liberty Trail Starter Locations

Here are some great places to begin your scavenger hunt.

Atlanta, Georgia

???? Georgia State Capitol

An 8½-foot copper Liberty statue stands near Liberty Plaza. Dedicated in 1951, it’s one of the best preserved replicas from the Boy Scouts project.

Scavenger clue:Look for the plaque referencing “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.”

Overland Park, Kansas

???? Shawnee Mission North High School

Kansas once had 26 Liberty replicas scattered across the state. This statue still greets students every day on campus.

Scavenger clue:Count the seven spikes on the crown — just like the original statue.

Lincoln, Nebraska

???? Antelope Park – Veterans Memorial Garden

Originally dedicated in 1951, this statue has moved several times but now stands in a peaceful memorial garden honoring military service.

Scavenger clue:Find the Veterans Memorial Garden marker near the statue.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

???? Downtown Mackinac Island

This Little Sister stands in one of America’s most charming historic destinations — an island where cars are banned and horse-drawn carriages rule the streets.

Scavenger clue:Capture a photo with both the statue and a horse carriage in the background.

Paragould, Arkansas

???? Greene County Courthouse Square

One of the earliest Liberty replicas used as a memorial to fallen soldiers.

Scavenger clue:Look for plaques honoring local veterans.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

???? Historic downtown area

In 1998, Boy Scout Troop 101 launched a nationwide search to locate the remaining statues and document their history.

Scavenger clue:Find out how Troop 101 helped rediscover these statues.

New Castle, Pennsylvania

???? City Square

Another surviving Little Sister statue that stands as a community landmark.

Scavenger clue:Look for surrounding historic buildings and monuments nearby.

Ultimate Liberty Challenge

If you’re a true Liberty explorer, see how many of these you can visit:

• Georgia

• Arkansas

• Kansas

• Nebraska

• Michigan

• Pennsylvania

• Wyoming

• Texas

• California

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