If you’re driving along US Route 11/15 just north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. There is a lady in the water. Specifically, a 17-foot tall replica of the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty stands perched on an old bridge piling in the middle of the massive, shallow waterway. It’s weird. It’s random. Honestly, it’s one of those things that makes Pennsylvania road trips feel a little bit more like a fever dream.
You see it near the village of Dauphin. People call it "the Dauphin Statue." It’s basically become the mascot of this stretch of the river, but its origin isn’t some grand government project or a gift from France.
It was a prank.
How a midnight prank became a local legend
The original version of the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty didn't have a permit. It didn't have a dedicated budget. In late June 1986, a local lawyer named Gene Stilp and a few of his friends decided they wanted to do something for the centennial of the actual Statue of Liberty in New York. They didn't ask for permission. Why would they? They spent about $600 on venetian blinds, plywood, and chicken wire.
They built the thing in a garage. Then, under the cover of a very dark, very foggy night, they hauled the 18-foot-tall structure out into the river using a small boat. They hoisted it onto a stone pier that used to support the old Marysville Bridge, which had been gone for decades.
Imagine waking up the next morning as a commuter heading into Harrisburg. Suddenly, there’s a white silhouette of Lady Liberty standing in the middle of the Susquehanna. People lost their minds. The local news went wild. The state of Pennsylvania, predictably, wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or impressed. Because it was a "navigation hazard" (or so the official line went), there were talks of tearing it down. But the public loved it.
The tragic death of the first statue
The first statue wasn't built to last. It was made of wood and blinds, for crying out loud. It was basically a giant kite sitting in a wind tunnel. For six years, it took a beating from the Pennsylvania weather. High winds whipped through the river valley. Ice jams—which are notorious on the Susquehanna—battered the base of the pier.
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By 1992, the original Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty was a wreck. It was literally falling apart. When the state finally decided it had to come down for safety reasons, the local community realized they didn't want a bare pier. They wanted their lady back.
This is where the story gets more "official" but stays just as grassroots.
A massive fundraising effort began. Locals raised over $25,000. They didn't want another plywood cutout; they wanted something that could survive a hurricane. The new version was commissioned from a local craftsman, and this time, they used fiberglass. It was built to be a more permanent fixture of the Dauphin Narrows.
Engineering a landmark in a flood zone
Building a statue in the middle of a river is a logistical nightmare. The Susquehanna is incredibly wide but often very shallow, making it difficult to navigate large construction equipment. The current version of the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty stands about 17 and a half feet tall. It’s not just a shell; it’s anchored deep into the stone of the old bridge piling.
Why the Marysville Bridge pier?
Well, it’s a solid foundation. The bridge itself was built by the Northern Central Railway. It was once a vital link for the region, but after it was dismantled, the piers remained like giant stepping stones across the water. Using one of these for a statue was a stroke of genius. It’s high enough to stay above most seasonal floods, though the 2011 floods after Tropical Storm Lee gave everyone a real scare.
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The statue has been hit by lightning. It has been buffeted by 80 mph winds. It has been used as a target for birds. Yet, it remains. It was even taken down for a "makeover" and restoration years ago because the white paint had started to grey and the fiberglass needed patching. When she was missing from the pier, the locals felt like the river was empty.
Why the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty actually matters
You might wonder why people care so much about a 17-foot piece of fiberglass. It’s because the Susquehanna is a tough river. It’s a river of industry, coal runoff, and massive floods. Having something whimsical—something that started as a rebellious act by a guy with some plywood—gives the region a bit of character that isn't tied to the state capitol or the steel mills.
Gene Stilp, the original creator, became something of a local activist legend. He wasn't just a guy who liked statues; he was a guy who liked making a point. The statue was his way of saying that citizens can shape their own landscape.
When you see the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty today, you’re looking at more than a landmark. You’re looking at a piece of folk art. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best landmarks aren't planned by architects in high-rise offices. They’re dreamt up in garages and rowed out into the water at 2:00 AM.
Visiting and seeing the statue
If you want to see it, you can't really "walk" to it. You’re going to be looking from the shore.
The best view is from the northbound side of Route 11/15. There is a small pull-off area, but you have to be careful. This is a high-speed highway. People fly through here. There is a more formal viewing area with some signage that explains the history, located just north of the Marysville Bridge remains.
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If you’re a kayaker, you can get closer. Be warned: the currents around the bridge piers can be tricky. The Susquehanna looks lazy, but it’s powerful. Experienced paddlers often launch from the Marysville side or the Dauphin side to get a "selfie" with the lady, but you should never try to climb the pier. It’s private property (sort of) and incredibly dangerous.
Common misconceptions
- It’s a gift from France. No. Not even a little bit. It’s a gift from a guy named Gene and the local residents who chipped in twenty bucks at a time.
- It’s life-sized. It’s actually about one-tenth the size of the real Lady Liberty in New York Harbor.
- It’s made of stone. It looks like stone from a distance, but it’s actually reinforced fiberglass and metal.
The statue has become such a fixture that it shows up on local maps. It’s a waypoint for boaters. It’s a "we’re almost home" sign for people living in Perry County. It represents a very specific kind of Pennsylvania stubbornness—the kind that says "we want a statue in our river, and we're going to keep putting it back every time it breaks."
What to do next if you're in the area
Seeing the Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty only takes about ten minutes, but if you've made the trip, you shouldn't just turn around.
Drive five miles south into Harrisburg and check out the State Capitol building. It’s often called a "Palace of Art" and is legitimately one of the most beautiful government buildings in the United States. If you're more into the outdoors, head over to the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area for some hiking.
Better yet, bring a pair of binoculars to the statue pull-off. You can often see ospreys or bald eagles nesting on the other abandoned bridge piers nearby. The river is a massive bird corridor.
If you're feeling adventurous, rent a kayak in Marysville. Seeing the statue from water level gives you a much better appreciation for the scale of the old bridge piers and the sheer audacity it took to put a statue on top of one in the middle of the night.
Practical steps for your visit:
- GPS Coordinates: Look for "Statue of Liberty - Dauphin" on Google Maps.
- Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting on the statue’s face.
- Safety: Stay behind the guardrails on Route 11/15. The traffic is no joke.
- Photography: Use a telephoto lens (at least 200mm) if you want a clear shot of the torch and crown; she’s further out in the water than she looks.
The Susquehanna River Statue of Liberty is a testament to community spirit and a good old-fashioned prank. It’s a weird, wonderful part of the American landscape that proves you don't need a massive government grant to create something that people will love for forty years. It just takes a little bit of fiberglass and a lot of nerve.