The Statue of Liberty sits on New York's horizon, an icon that for more than a hundred years has designated liberty and America. Today Woman Liberty stands cool and calm in the Hudson Bay, looking over Long Island Harbour, but so many years later one might wonder where she came from and why she is here. To answer these questions we may dig in the History of the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty was first intended as a present to the US citizens from the French. It was to commemorate the hundredth year of the Declaration of Independence. The gift also designated the friendship that had developed between the 2 countries in the Revolutionary War. Even though it was meant to be completed in 1876, the original plans didn't work out.
The statue itself was accredited to Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, but the complete process was a joint effort from both sides of the pond. Thanks to a shortage in funds from both countries the project was initially delayed. Fundraisers were held to raise the needed money in France to insure the statue would rise on the shore of America. In the meantime on the American side, the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer pulled out all of the stops with his newspaper "The World" to urge the American people step up to the plate. Ultimately the money was raised to construct the pedestal the Statue of Liberty would later stand on. The Statue of Liberty's history was still in progress though, and Woman Liberty herself wasn't finished for another 8 years.
Once the Statue was complete in France in July of 1884, it took about a complete year to arrive on the shores of Big Apple Harbor. She made her initial debut in June of 1885. She had traveled from France to America in 214 crates holding 350 separate pieces on board the frigate called "Isere." Once the statue had eventually arrived in NY in several pieces it needed to be put together, no straightforward task for a monument so massive. After the 4 month process of building the final statue, she was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Although she was supposed to be finished for the year 1876, casting backwards this is often viewed as a minor speed bump in the established history of the Statue of Liberty.
Today folk principally flock to NY for Statue of Liberty tours. Even today she is an impressive presense and visitors can be stare up at the big statue and pedestal, which from the base to the tip of her torch measures 305 feet 6 inches in height. She also weighs an enormous 225 tons. For people that need to climb and peer out over the huge harbor that so many rejoiced in reaching, the staircase inside is 154 steps up to her head.
The Statue of Liberty was first intended as a present to the US citizens from the French. It was to commemorate the hundredth year of the Declaration of Independence. The gift also designated the friendship that had developed between the 2 countries in the Revolutionary War. Even though it was meant to be completed in 1876, the original plans didn't work out.
The statue itself was accredited to Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, but the complete process was a joint effort from both sides of the pond. Thanks to a shortage in funds from both countries the project was initially delayed. Fundraisers were held to raise the needed money in France to insure the statue would rise on the shore of America. In the meantime on the American side, the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer pulled out all of the stops with his newspaper "The World" to urge the American people step up to the plate. Ultimately the money was raised to construct the pedestal the Statue of Liberty would later stand on. The Statue of Liberty's history was still in progress though, and Woman Liberty herself wasn't finished for another 8 years.
Once the Statue was complete in France in July of 1884, it took about a complete year to arrive on the shores of Big Apple Harbor. She made her initial debut in June of 1885. She had traveled from France to America in 214 crates holding 350 separate pieces on board the frigate called "Isere." Once the statue had eventually arrived in NY in several pieces it needed to be put together, no straightforward task for a monument so massive. After the 4 month process of building the final statue, she was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Although she was supposed to be finished for the year 1876, casting backwards this is often viewed as a minor speed bump in the established history of the Statue of Liberty.
Today folk principally flock to NY for Statue of Liberty tours. Even today she is an impressive presense and visitors can be stare up at the big statue and pedestal, which from the base to the tip of her torch measures 305 feet 6 inches in height. She also weighs an enormous 225 tons. For people that need to climb and peer out over the huge harbor that so many rejoiced in reaching, the staircase inside is 154 steps up to her head.
About the Author:
Jeff Myers has had an interest in tours of new york city for many years. He has written many articles about this subject, including brief histories and the top most fascinating facts. For more info about tours of new york city come visit http://www.nyccitytours.org
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