The green lady that stands firmly on a manmade island in New York is not just a statue. A monument of freedom to millions around the world. She was a gift from France to the United States commemorating their friendship established during the American Revolution and the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. A sculptor named Frederic Auguste Barthhold was commissioned to build this statue. The United States came to an agreement with France that America would build the base and the French would build the statue itself. Though both countries were lacking money, both countries were able to raise enough money to support the statues construction. Today this statue reminds us that through all the struggles America has experienced in the past, and will experience in the future, we will emerge strong, united, and free.
The set date for completion of the statue was in 1876. Work on the Statue began in both France and America around this time. In France, another man was appointed to help Barthold start sketching the designs for the statue. Together, Barthold and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, builder of the Eiffel tower in Paris, drafted their first design of the framework. While this was taking place, not much was happening in America to support the statues construction. Only a small amount of money had been fund raised by the American Committee of the Statue of Liberty, so Joseph Pulitzer opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper to help fund raise. His newspaper greatly motivated the American people to donate to the cause. Slowly but surely by August 1885, enough money had been funded to pay for the statues pedestal, which was finished, in America, in April of 1886. The pedestal was made from granite and was designed in the shape of a star. Its walls were originally created for use in the War of 1812 as Fort Wood, but found a better purpose as the statues foundation. The statue itself was finished in France in July of 1884. Before the statue could be shipped to the U.S., it was disassembled into 350 individual pieces and placed into 214 crates. The statue arrived in New York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. Four months later the statue was reconstructed on her pedestal.
A mere ten years later form the original completion date; the statue was completed and dedicated in 1886. On October 28, 1886, there was a ceremony to dedicate the Statue of Liberty. The island itself including the statue became a national monument soon after. The National Park service had care control over the monument. Later in 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred into the hands of the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Since then, the statue has been restored numerous times. In 1984, at the start of the Statue's largest restoration project, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. Ever since then it has stood proudly as a constant reminder that the Unites States is a free country "with liberty and justice for all".
The set date for completion of the statue was in 1876. Work on the Statue began in both France and America around this time. In France, another man was appointed to help Barthold start sketching the designs for the statue. Together, Barthold and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, builder of the Eiffel tower in Paris, drafted their first design of the framework. While this was taking place, not much was happening in America to support the statues construction. Only a small amount of money had been fund raised by the American Committee of the Statue of Liberty, so Joseph Pulitzer opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper to help fund raise. His newspaper greatly motivated the American people to donate to the cause. Slowly but surely by August 1885, enough money had been funded to pay for the statues pedestal, which was finished, in America, in April of 1886. The pedestal was made from granite and was designed in the shape of a star. Its walls were originally created for use in the War of 1812 as Fort Wood, but found a better purpose as the statues foundation. The statue itself was finished in France in July of 1884. Before the statue could be shipped to the U.S., it was disassembled into 350 individual pieces and placed into 214 crates. The statue arrived in New York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. Four months later the statue was reconstructed on her pedestal.
A mere ten years later form the original completion date; the statue was completed and dedicated in 1886. On October 28, 1886, there was a ceremony to dedicate the Statue of Liberty. The island itself including the statue became a national monument soon after. The National Park service had care control over the monument. Later in 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred into the hands of the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Since then, the statue has been restored numerous times. In 1984, at the start of the Statue's largest restoration project, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. Ever since then it has stood proudly as a constant reminder that the Unites States is a free country "with liberty and justice for all".