Statue of Liberty, officially known as Liberty Enlightening the World (French: La Liberté éclairant le monde), is a colossal neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, USA. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was completed on October 28, 1886, as a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States.
The statue depicts a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She holds a torch high in her right hand, while her left hand carries a tablet inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, written in Roman numerals: “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776). At her feet lie broken chains, symbolizing the end of oppression. The Statue of Liberty is not only a symbol of freedom and democracy but also a welcoming beacon for immigrants arriving in the United States.
Construction and Historical Background
In 1865, French jurist and politician Édouard René de Laboulaye proposed the idea of a monument to commemorate the centennial of American independence, believing that it should be a joint effort between France and the United States. His idea was likely inspired by the recent victory of the Union in the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Encouraged by Laboulaye’s vision, Bartholdi began designing the statue. However, due to political instability in France, the project did not commence until the early 1870s.
In 1875, Laboulaye suggested that France would fund the statue’s construction, while the United States would provide the site and build the pedestal. Even before completing the full design, Bartholdi crafted the head and the torch-bearing arm, which were exhibited at international expositions to promote fundraising efforts.
In 1876, the statue’s torch-bearing arm was displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and later exhibited at Madison Square in New York City from 1876 to 1882. However, fundraising was slow, especially in the United States. By 1885, the construction of the pedestal was still at risk due to a lack of funds. Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of The New York World, launched a public donation campaign, attracting over 120,000 contributors, most of whom donated less than one dollar. This campaign ultimately secured the necessary funds to complete the project.
The statue was fully assembled in France, then shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island), where it was reassembled on its completed pedestal. The unveiling was celebrated with the first ticker-tape parade in history, and U.S. President Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremony.
Management and Preservation
Initially managed by the United States Lighthouse Board, the statue was transferred to the Department of War in 1901 and later placed under the care of the National Park Service (NPS) in 1933. In 1938, the statue was temporarily closed to the public for restoration work.
By the early 1980s, the statue had suffered significant deterioration and required major repairs. As a result, it was closed from 1984 to 1986 for restoration, during which the torch and much of the internal structure were replaced.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the statue was closed for security reasons. While the pedestal reopened in 2004, the statue itself did not reopen until 2009, with restrictions placed on the number of visitors allowed to access the crown. From 2011 to 2012, the statue underwent another temporary closure for safety upgrades, including the installation of additional staircases. Although Liberty Island remained open during this period, the statue had only just reopened on October 28, 2012, when it was forced to close again the following day due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The statue finally reopened to the public on July 4, 2013.
One notable restriction remains in place: since 1916, the balcony surrounding the torch has been permanently closed to the public for safety reasons.
