Monuments & Masons: On the Gateway to America: A Legacy of Freemasons

LIBERTY STATE PARK is a green oasis in the middle of metropolitan Northern New Jersey. The Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Liberation Monument provide a naturally attractive backdrop to the park. Following the Dutch and English conquest of this general area, immigrants came by ship, mainly from Europe and later from all parts of the world. The East Coast entry point was Ellis Island, with Lady Liberty welcoming them in the New York Harbor. This has been the Gateway to America.

Standing proudly in New York Bay is the Statue of Liberty, a testament to the vision and craftsmanship of prominent Freemasons from France and America, among others. On the New Jersey side, opposite Lady Liberty, stands the Liberation Monument, a symbol of Compassion and Deliverance. Conceived by Nathan Rapoport, this statue depicts an American soldier providing solace and safety to a concentration camp victim during the Second World War.

Within the Gateway to America, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Liberation Monument form a powerful triangle. This confluence of symbols, along with the dramatic backdrop of the Hudson and East Rivers, serves as a testament to the area's cultural and historical significance.

The Upper Bay can be viewed as the icon of amalgamation of Freedom, Opportunity, and Liberation, representing the spirit of the United States of America.

This book is the story of the Gateway to America and the contribution of the Freemasons to the creation and commemoration of edifices honoring New York Harbor.