Honoring Seattle’s 'Little Sister of Liberty'

This article is part of The Highline Journal’s Celebrating America at 250: Northwest Stories.

Everybody has heard of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Lady Liberty is visited by 3.4 million visitors every year.  She is one of  America’s top 10 national historic landmarks, and continues to represent freedom, inspiration, and hope to Americans. These ideals are so vital to human flourishing that replicas of the original statue have been created, including one installed locally at Alki Beach in 1952.

You may wonder why a replica was placed in Seattle, so far from New York, and who put it there. 

The Alki Beach statue, now over 70 years old, is a beloved local landmark known as “Our Little Sister of Liberty” and has a fascinating heritage involving the Boy Scouts. 

Back in 1950, the Boy Scouts of America were preparing to celebrate their 40th Anniversary. At the time, the Cold War with the Soviet Union was brewing, and communism was spreading rapidly. As tensions increased, Americans needed hope and renewed patriotism. 

A visionary leader in the Boy Scouts understood that the youth urgently needed to be taught American values for our country to thrive. This inspiration led to a plan for the Boy Scouts to serve their country. A replica of the original Lady of Liberty was designed as a tangible symbol of freedom, and 200 were placed throughout the nation.  

Scout troops around the country, including here in Seattle, joined the campaign known as “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.” Troops were encouraged to embrace this mission and raise funds locally for their own statues. Here is a powerful quote from a BSA leader announcing the new program. 

“Whether the future is to be one of freedom or despotism depends chiefly on how our young people develop,” BSA President Amory Houghton, Scouting magazine article, 1950.

In 1952, Alki Beach was filled with 2,000 scouts who came to dedicate the statue. 

Our Little Sister of Liberty looks out over Elliot Bay and stands to welcome travelers by land or sea. She bears a close resemblance in design to New York’s original landmark.  There is a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.  The tablet represents the law and has the date of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, inscribed on it; a permanent reminder of America’s fight for Independence. The Alki monument also has a broken chain at her feet, representing the crushing of slavery. The main difference between the two statues is size and scale.  At 7.5 feet tall, she stands at just 5% of the height of the original.

The 1952 statue was made of copper, just like the one in New York. Years of wear and tear, and sadly, vandalism are also part of its history. In 2007, the Alki statue was recast in bronze and painted.

Alki Beach was chosen by the scouts for a replica site based on its historical significance. In 1851, the Denny party landed on the beach and established the birthplace of Seattle; according to local lore, the settlement was originally called “New York Alki.” This is where they met Chief Seattle, the city's namesake, who played a crucial role in Seattle’s history and helped the settlers survive the harsh winter.

Over the years, locals have sought strength, prayed, and gathered around this iconic American symbol, particularly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It stands as a reminder of a time when young people and community organizations came together to create something lasting for future generations. 

Today, once again, conflicts arise at home and abroad. Americans continue to need the visual reminder of the cost of freedom and the symbol of hope found in the Statue of Liberty.

Getting There

The statue is located on the south end of Alki Beach at 2665 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 

 It is a 20 to 30-minute drive from the Highline area. 

Parking can be tricky, especially on a sunny day. There is street parking along Alki Ave and in the residential neighborhoods. There are a variety of good restaurants to choose from, and the promenade is a great place for a walk along the waterfront.

Learn More and See Articles and Photos From the Past:

Little Sisters of Liberty

Why Does Alki Beach Have a Statue of Liberty Replica? | Seattle Met

Seattle Now & Then: Alki Statue of Liberty 

Southwest Seattle Historical Society - Log House Museum - location of the original 1952 statue