THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

To many people, the Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most cherished symbols. It is the symbol of freedom, a freedom that millions of people have to America to find.

Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World has stood in New York harbor. It also commemorates American friendship for it was given by the people of France, designed by Frederic August Bartholdi (1834 – 1909). A $ 2.5 million building housing the American Museum of Immigration was opened by President Nixon in 1972, at the base of the statue. It houses a permanent exhibition of photos, posters, and artifacts tracing the history of American immigration.

The people of France had long admired the liberty enjoyed by the people who lived in the United States, In 1865, Edouard dew Laboulaye, French historian and admirer of American political institutions, suggested the French present a monument to the United that would be a tribute to this liberty as well as a symbol of the two countries. This idea became a reality when a sculptor named Frederic August Bartholdi sailed to the United States to find support and a location for France’s gift.

On Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1877, Congress approved the use of the site on Beadloe's Island suggested by Bartholdi. This island of 12 acres had been owned in the 17^th century by a Walloon named Isaac Beadloe. It was called Bedloe’s until August 3, 1956, when President Eisenhower approved a resolution of Congress changing the name to Liberty Island. The sculptor sailed home to begin work on the monument.

Bartholdi decided to create a huge statue of a robed woman with her right arm holding a torch high above her head. He modeled her face after the strong features of his own mother’s face. Construction began on “Lady Liberty” in a Paris workshop in 1875. Funds for the statue were raised by the French people. By July 4, 1876, Bartholdi had completed the right hand and torch and sent it to the United States to display for their centennial celebration of the singing of the Declaration of Independence. At home, the sculptor continued to work on the test of the statue. He was helped greatly by Alexander Gustave Eiffel, who designed the framework to support the gigantic statue.

Meanwhile back in the United States, money was being raised for the base and the pedestal necessary to support France’s gift. Construction on the pedestal started in 1884 but soon stopped because the money ran out. The needed funds were finally raised because of a newspaper campaign started by Joseph Pulitzer. He appealed to the people all over the country, sent by children as well as by adults. In less than five months, the newspaper campaign had helped to raise the needed money. About 121.000 people had given the $ 100.000 needed to finish the pedestal.

The complete statue was officially presented to the United States in Paris, France on July 4, 1884. It was then carefully taken apart and shipped to America. The statue arrived in 1885 and the pedestal was completed in April of 1886.

Liberty Enlightening the world was hoister on Beadloe Island on October 28, 1886, over ten years after the work began. Bartholdi was there as were members of the French government People of America and the world over were delighted with this special monument.

The statue was made from copper sheets and it is hollow inside. Inside there is a circular stairway from the base to the crown. There is also a lift in it.

The figure shows a young woman. She holds a torch in her right hand above her head and in her left hand is a tablet with the date “July 4^th 1776” on it, which symbolizes the Declaration of Independence. The torch lights up at night.

Over the years, Liberty Enlightening the World had commonly been called the Statue of Liberty. It became a symbol of hope for the millions of immigrants who came by it on their way to settle in America

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