New York City,United States of America
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Dedicated in 1886, it was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with structural engineering by Gustave Eiffel. The monument was conceived as a gift from France to the United States to commemorate the centennial of American independence and to symbolize political liberty. Constructed of copper sheets over an iron framework, the statue became a prominent landmark for transatlantic arrivals and a material expression of 19th-century ideals of republican governance.
Key Facts
- Materials
- Copper, Iron framework (later stainless steel supports), Concrete pedestal
- Dimensions
- Statue height 46m; total height including pedestal approximately 93m
- Civilization
- French Third Republic; United States
- Date(s)
- 1875-1886 (dedicated 28 October 1886)
- Condition
- Preserved monument and museum site
- Original Function
- Commemorative monument celebrating liberty and Franco-American alliance
- Key Figures
- Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel, Édouard de Laboulaye
- Architectural Style
- Neoclassical
Concept and Franco-American Origins
1865-1875The idea originated with French political thinker Édouard de Laboulaye, who proposed a monument celebrating American independence and shared republican values following the American Civil War. Fundraising occurred in both France and the United States, with France financing the statue and the United States funding the pedestal.
Design and Construction
1875-1884Bartholdi designed the robed female figure holding a torch and tablet inscribed with the date 4 July 1776. Gustave Eiffel engineered the internal iron framework to support the copper skin. The statue was assembled in Paris, disassembled for shipment, and transported to New York in 1885.
Dedication and Early Reception
1886The statue was dedicated on 28 October 1886 in a ceremony attended by U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Positioned at the entrance to New York Harbor, it became a visible landmark for immigrants arriving through nearby Ellis Island.
20th-Century Preservation
20th centuryThe monument was designated a National Monument in 1924. Major restoration occurred in 1984-1986, including replacement of the original iron armature with stainless steel supports. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Contemporary Management
21st centuryThe statue is administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Access includes museum exhibits in the pedestal and regulated entry to the crown. Security measures increased after 2001, and visitor management now relies on timed ticketing.