Lady Liberty is a monumental work of art uniquely appreciated on the many levels of human experience that her essence represents. A gift from the people of France in 1886, she was meant to commemorate international amity and the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. And for the American republic she stands fierce and proud in New York Harbor, her torch eternally extended in promise and hope.
It is said that Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the lady’s face in the image of his own beloved mother. The design was commissioned for completion in 1876 so that it would coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but lack of funds on both sides of the Atlantic delayed progress. It was agreed upon that the American people would build her pedestal and the French people would be responsible for the statue and its assembly in the United States. To raise funds, the French raised public fees and held a lottery, while in the United States, auctions, prize fights, art exhibitions and theatrical events provided necessary funds. Monies dribbled slowly in America until Joseph Pulitzer used the editorial pages of his newspaper, “The World” to support the fund-raising effort.
Sculptor Bartholdi enlisted the help of engineer, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) to address important structural issues and the statue was completed in France in July of 1884. It arrived in New York Harbor aboard the French frigate “Isere’ in June of 1885. The statue was reduced to a puzzle of 350 individual pieces for transport and was packed in 214 crates. Re-assembly took four months and on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated to the American people in front of thousands of spectators.
Liberty Island (Bedloes) is open from 9:30 AM- 5 PM and the park is open daily except on December 25th. It should be noted that time passes are needed to enter the monument and a limited number can be purchased on a first come, first served basis at the ferry ticket office.
For more information, call 1-866-STATUE or visit online at: www.statuereservations.com