Most People Don’t Know There’s A Little Statue Of Liberty In Wisconsin
By Ben Jones|Published September 19, 2021
×
Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Lady Liberty might be a little closer than you realize. A perfect replica of the famous statue resides in the heart of the Fox Cities of Wisconsin, holding her torch proudly for passing cars and pedestrians. The statue is a ringer for the iconic greeter of Ellis Island, just a lot smaller. So exactly where is this statue and why was it built? Read on to find out.
The original statue was a gift to the United States from France – it was dedicated in 1886 and it became a welcoming symbol of promise to scores of arriving immigrants.
You’ll find a perfect replica 1,000 miles west. Neenah, a city on the banks of Lake Winnebago, has a number of impressive public art pieces, but the most recognizable is its own Lady Liberty.
Neenah’s statue is about 1/10 the size of the original statue, or about 15 feet tall. It’s still impressive, but it’s set back from the street so if you don’t look for it, you might miss it.
The statue’s inscription tells its story: “This Memorial is dedicated on this 100th birthday of Lady Liberty in honor of those who have given their lives to make freedom a continuing reality in Neenah. July 4, 1986. The employees of Bergstrom Enterprises.” Bergstrom is a large car dealer based in Neenah – it employs more than 1,400 people.
If you can’t make it to Neenah, you’ll find other Statue of Liberty replicas around the world, including South Dakota, Pennsylvania, California, and Alabama.
If you visit Neenah’s Statue of Liberty, you may want to visit the city’s other public art pieces, as well – there’s a statue of American Indian Ho-Chunk Chief Glory on Wisconsin Avenue, a wind sculpture behind the Neenah Public Library, and a George Washington statue next to a Plexus office building. There’s a lot more beautiful art to discover in Wisconsin. Here are some artistic towns that are begging to be visited.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.