The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, was a gift from France to the United States. This monumental statue was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and was dedicated on October 28, 1886. The idea of the statue originated in the 1860s when Édouard René de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and abolitionist, proposed the idea as a way to celebrate the centennial of American independence in 1876.
Bartholdi collaborated with the French government to bring the statue to life, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations. The statue was constructed in France, specifically in the city of Paris. It was built using copper sheets, and the internal structure was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later went on to design the famous Eiffel Tower. The statue stands at 151 feet tall, but when including the pedestal, it reaches a total height of 305 feet.
After the statue was completed, it was disassembled and shipped to the United States in 1885. The statue was transported in 350 individual pieces packed in over 200 cases. Upon its arrival, the United States faced the challenge of constructing the pedestal on which the statue would stand, a endeavor that faced funding difficulties until Joseph Pulitzer, the newspaper publisher, launched a fundraising campaign that successfully raised the necessary funds.
The Statue of Liberty was installed on Liberty Island (formerly Bedloe's Island) in New York Harbor and was officially unveiled to the public on October 28, 1886. This event was attended by thousands of people, including President Grover Cleveland, who dedicated the statue, stating, "Liberty is the air we breathe. It is the unconditional promise of self-determination, for which so many have sacrificed so much."
The statue has since become an iconic representation of the United States, welcoming millions of immigrants to the country through Ellis Island, which lies nearby. The monument is recognized for its significance in American history and continues to symbolize hope, freedom, and the enduring friendship between France and the United States.