The Statue of Liberty(originally called Liberty Enlightening the World (French: la Liberté éclairant le monde))
is a massive sculpture that stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
Designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886, the statue was a gift of the people of France. It has become
an iconic symbol
of
freedom
and of the
United States.
ConceptionBartholdi's design patent
The origin of the Statue of Liberty project
is
generally traced to a comment made by French law professor and politician Édouard René de Laboulaye in mid-1865 in after-dinner conversation at his home near Versailles.
Laboulaye, who had been an ardent supporter of the Union in the American Civil War,
proposed
If a monument should rise in the United States,
as a memorial to their independence,
I should think it only natural if it were built by united effort—
a common work of both our nations.
Laboulaye's comment was not intended as a proposal, but a young sculptor, Frédéric Bartholdi, was present at the dinner and was inspired by Laboulaye's comment.
Given the repressive nature of the regime of Napoleon III, Bartholdi took no immediate action on the proposal, and instead approached Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, with a plan to build a huge lighthouse in the form of
an ancient Egyptian female fellah or peasant,
robed and holding a torch aloft, at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal.
Some sketches and models were made of the proposed work, which was never erected.
The American project was further delayed by the Franco-Prussian War, in which Bartholdi served as a major of militia.
The origin of the Statue of Liberty project
is
generally traced to a comment made by French law professor and politician Édouard René de Laboulaye in mid-1865 in after-dinner conversation at his home near Versailles.
Laboulaye, who had been an ardent supporter of the Union in the American Civil War,
proposed
If a monument should rise in the United States,
as a memorial to their independence,
I should think it only natural if it were built by united effort—
a common work of both our nations.
Laboulaye's comment was not intended as a proposal, but a young sculptor, Frédéric Bartholdi, was present at the dinner and was inspired by Laboulaye's comment.
Given the repressive nature of the regime of Napoleon III, Bartholdi took no immediate action on the proposal, and instead approached Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, with a plan to build a huge lighthouse in the form of
an ancient Egyptian female fellah or peasant,
robed and holding a torch aloft, at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal.
Some sketches and models were made of the proposed work, which was never erected.
The American project was further delayed by the Franco-Prussian War, in which Bartholdi served as a major of militia.
The statue is situated within the State of New York;however,
Liberty Island is entirely surrounded by New Jersey territorial waters.
A boundary dispute between the two states regarding the island was settled by interstate compact, with the ratification of Congress, in 1834.
The island has been entirely under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government since 1800.
There is no charge for entry to Statue of Liberty National Monument;
however there is a charge for the ferry service, which all visitors must use, as private boats are not permitted to dock at the island.
All visitors undergo security screening before boarding the ferry.
Ferries operated by Statue Cruises run from Liberty State Park in New Jersey and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Visitors intending to enter the statue's base and pedestal must obtain a complimentary museum/pedestal ticket from the ferry service operator, which is obtainable at the time of ferry ticket purchase.
Visitors wishing to climb the staircase within the statue to the crown must obtain a special ticket, which may be reserved up to a year in advance.
Ten people per group, and approximately three groups per hour, are permitted to ascend to the crown.
Visitors may bring only medication and cameras with them into the statue.
All other items are to be placed in lockers, and visitors must submit to a second security screening before entry.
A total of 240 people per day may ascend to the crown.
The statue was dedicated on the afternoon of October 28, 1886,in a
ceremony presided over
by
President Grover Cleveland.
The statue was administered by the United States Lighthouse Board until 1901 and then by the Department of War;
since 1933 it has been operated by the National Park Service.
The balcony surrounding the torch was closed to the public in 1916, and the entire statue was closed for renovation in 1938 and from 1984–86.
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 the statue was closed for security reasons;
the pedestal was reopened in 2004 and the statue in 2009,
with limitations on the number
of
visitors allowed to ascend to the crown.
In 1875,improved political stability, a recovering postwar economy, and increasing French interest in the upcoming Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia caused Laboulaye to decide it was time to seek public support.
In September 1875, Laboulaye announced the project and the formation of the Franco-American Union as its fundraising arm.
The French would finance the statue; Americans would be expected to pay for the pedestal on which the statue would stand.
The announcement provoked a generally favorable reaction in France, though many Frenchmen resented the United States for not coming to their aid during the Franco-Prussian War.
Monarchists opposed the statue, if for no other reason than it was proposed by the liberal Laboulaye, who had recently been elected a senator for life.
Laboulaye arranged events designed to appeal to the rich and powerful, including a special performance at the Paris Opera which featured a new cantata by composer Charles Gounod.
With the announcement, the statue was given a name,
Liberty Enlightening the World."
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