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Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was presented to the Unites States of America by the people of France in the year 1886. The statue is to commemorate the centennial signing of the declaration of Americas Independence, as a gesture of friendship.
The statue was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi with Maurice Koechlin engineering the internal structure. Maurice Koechlin was the chief engineer from the company, which had built the Eiffel Tower.
The copper clad statue of a robed woman holding a torch is one Americas iconic figures today. For most immigrants arriving by sea in New York the statue gave them expectation and hope for a better life.
The politicians of France first discussed a gift for this new nation in the year 1867. France itself was going through a transitional period, the government thought that a huge gift from one new republic to another would serve as a focus for the people.
Once the designers, architects and engineers had been agreed, a small scale model was built in 1870. This model is on display for all to see, at the Jardin du Luxembourg, in Paris. Many people are unaware that a second model was also made. This was given to the people of Brazil and can be found in front of the city hall in the town of Maceios in the Northeast of Brazil.
It was a visit to Egypt by the sculptor Frederic Bartholdi that would change the size of the statue. Bartholdi went to visit his friend Count Ferdinand de Lesseps who was in charge of the Suez Canal project. Seeing the size of this project he envisioned a giant lighthouse at the canals entrance.
He thought of the Roman goddess Libertas with modifications, a torch in her hand, and light beaming from a headband. Bartholdi gave his plans to the Egyptian Pasha in the year 1867 but the project was never commissioned.
The French and American governments decided between themselves that the Americans would build the base and the French would assemble the Statue. It had been planned that the statue would be completed by the 4th of July in 1876, but due to a late start and delays it was ten years late.
The Statue of Liberty has over the years, has been a beacon of hope for many, and continues to attract millions of Visitors. In October 1924 the Statue was given a National Monument status, and is governed by the National Parks.
To most New Yorkers the statue is affectingly called Lady Liberty. When you are next in New York a visit to Liberty Island should be a must on your things to do list.
