History of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most famous and beloved monuments. This is to welcome immigrants to New York Harbor and let those returning home know that they have reached America.
It has become an enduring symbol of freedom around the world. The Statue of Liberty was given as a gift from France to the United States as a symbol of their friendship.
France assisted the United States during the Revolutionary War. In 1865 the two countries shared similar political views and positions, leading Edouard René Laboulle to suggest that France give the United States a symbol of their friendship.
Planning for the Statue of Liberty
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was chosen as the sculptor for the statue. He was a renowned sculptor in France and had completed a famous statue of Napoleon.
He based the design on the Roman goddess Libertas. At the time, large sculptures were in style but not quite the scale of the Statue of Liberty. There are seven different points with a crown for each continent.
The torch paves the way for other countries to follow. The tablet dates back to July 4, 1776, when the United States declared independence from Great Britain.
Beneath his feet is a broken chain, symbolizing the break from bondage. The real idol is made of copper.
Choose a location
Once the original idea for the statue was commissioned, Bartholdi traveled to the United States in 1865 to determine the best location for the figure.
He was impressed by the number of large buildings in New York and saw it and the various islands around New York harbor. He eventually chose Bedlow Island because of the location.
This location will place the monument at the entrance to America. He wanted something massive to match the grandeur he found in New York City. (Statue of Liberty)
Construction and fundraising
The construction of the statue took many years. Since it was made of copper, it would not be easy to ship a completed statue from France to the United States.
The French built the statue in pieces. Then, he sent the details across the Atlantic Ocean, where a construction crew assembled them.
Charles P. Stone directed the construction of the statue after he arrived in the United States. He inspected the building of the seat and worked on attaching the figure to its base.
The French raised $250,000 through lottery and donations to begin construction of the statue.
People from the United States donated more than $180,000 to help with the cost of putting it together and building the base for the figure.
It took years for the United States to come up with the money, as many felt the government should not pay for it. (Statue of Liberty)
Statue of Liberty Today
During the great wave of immigration in the 1910s and 1920s, the Statue of Liberty welcomed people traveling here by boat.
He kept an eye on the immigrants as he passed through Ellis Island. In 1933, the National Park Service took over the Statue of Liberty.
They operate the visitor center and look after the statue and the island. Extensive renovations began on the Statue of Liberty in 1984.
The renovation took two years. He completely replaced the torch and worked on the statue’s interior during that time.
Ronald Regan spoke at the ceremony that opened the Statue of Liberty after the renovation was completed. (Statue of Liberty)
After 2001 people were no longer allowed inside the figure due to concerns about terrorism. In 2004 the pedestal part of the statue was reopened to the public. In 2009, people were allowed to start their journey to the Taj again.
A construction project to build a second staircase was scheduled for 2011 and will not be allowed inside the Statue of Liberty during its completion.
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