The major landmark that symbolizes freedom and democracy in the United States is the Statue of Liberty. Gifted by France to the United States in 1886, the statue stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and is a symbol of hope, freedom, and the welcoming of immigrants. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. With its iconic torch and tablet, inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty embodies the values of democracy and the pursuit of liberty, making it an enduring symbol of American ideals.