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 YorkStatue 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
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Original Torch Exhibit – the original torch replaced during the 1986 restoration
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Crown Climb – 354 steps to the crown’s 25 windows overlooking the harbor
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Fort Wood – the star-shaped military fort beneath the pedestal built before the War of 1812
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 StoryEllis 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
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Registry Room (“Great Hall”) where immigrants were processed
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Family history research center
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 SpecialThis 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 LibertyShawnee 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 NoteMany 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 GardenAntelope 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 DetailA 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 TownDowntown 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 BonusCombine your visit with:
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Mackinac Island State Park
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Fort Mackinac
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The island’s famous fudge shops
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 FranceFrench 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 FactsHere 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
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
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Washington, D.C. – French replica
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Atlanta – Georgia State Capitol replica
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Arkansas / Kansas / Nebraska – Little Sisters across the Midwest
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Michigan – Mackinac Island Liberty
Each stop tells a different part of the story.
Why This Journey MattersThe 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.
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Atlanta, Georgia – State Capitol
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Overland Park, Kansas – Shawnee Mission North High School
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Lincoln, Nebraska – Antelope Park
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Paragould, Arkansas – Courthouse Square
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Pine Bluff & Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Cheyenne, Wyoming
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New Castle, Pennsylvania
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Mackinac Island, Michigan
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Washington, D.C. – 2021 French replica
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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 WorksWhen 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 LocationsHere 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.”
???? 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.
???? 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.
???? 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.
???? 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.
???? 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.
???? City Square
Another surviving Little Sister statue that stands as a community landmark.
Scavenger clue:
Look for surrounding historic buildings and monuments nearby.
If you’re a true Liberty explorer, see how many of these you can visit:
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Georgia
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Arkansas
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Kansas
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Nebraska
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Michigan
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Pennsylvania
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Wyoming
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Texas
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California
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Puerto Rico
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Hawaii
Some travelers have discovered more than 20 statues during their journeys.
Liberty Photo ChallengeTry recreating the pose of the statue when you visit.
???? Raise one arm like the torch
???? Take a photo beside the statue
???? Tag your location
It’s a fun way to bring Lady Liberty’s spirit into your travels.
Why These Statues MatterThe Boy Scouts created the Little Sisters of Liberty to remind Americans that freedom isn’t just a national symbol.
It’s a local responsibility.
In big cities and small towns…
In parks and schoolyards…
Across courthouses and community squares.
Each statue quietly carries the same message as the original.
Liberty belongs everywhere.
Quarter Miles Travel Challenge
If you discover a Little Sister statue in your hometown or travels, share it with Travel With Annita.
You might just help uncover another forgotten piece of America’s Liberty story. Because sometimes the most meaningful monuments…aren’t the tallest ones. They’re the ones waiting quietly in your own neighborhood.
Photo of the broken chain on the Statue of Liberty’s foot
Photos of Lady Liberty empowering women.
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