Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France in the late 19th century in recognition of the friendship that was established during the American Revolution. French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture which was to be completed by 1876 to mark the Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. Due to delays in funding the statue arrived in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885.

The people of the United States were to build the base, and the French were responsible for the statue and its assembly in the States. Both sides struggled to raise the needed funds. In France, public donations, various forms of entertainment and a lottery were among the methods used to raise the 2,250,000 francs needed. While in America, theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights were a means to help raise needed funds.

Despite this, fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly. In an effort to galvanize support, the noted journalist Joseph Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize the public for it's lack of enthusiasm for the project. His campaign was successful in helping to motivate the American people to contribute. And eventually the necessary funds had been secured.

The statue rests majestically in New York Harbor. She has been a symbol of freedom and opportunity to immigrants and visitors entering America for well over a century.