The Statue of Liberty sits on New York's horizon, an icon that for more than a hundred years has designated freedom and America. Today Lady Liberty stands cool and calm in the Hudson Bay, looking over New York Harbour, but so many years after one might wonder where she came from and why she is here. To answer these questions we intend to delve in the History of the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty was first meant as a present to the US citizens from the French. It was to celebrate the hundredth year of the Declaration of Independence. The gift also designated the comradeship that had developed between the two countries in the Revolutionary War. Even though it was supposed to be completed in 1876, the initial plans didn't work out.
The statue itself was licensed to Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, but the entire process was a joint effort from each side of the pond. Thanks to a shortage in funds from both nations the project was initially delayed. Fundraisers were held to raise the needed money in France to insure the statue would rise on the edge of America. Meanwhile on the North American side, the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer pulled out all of the stops with his newspaper "The World" to help the American people step up to the plate. Eventually 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 was not finished for another 8 years.
Once the Statue was complete in France in July of 1884, it took just about a complete year to arrive on the shores of Big Apple Harbor. She made her 1st 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 ultimately arrived in New York in numerous pieces it needed to be put together, no straightforward task for a monument so massive. After the 4 month process of assembling the final statue, she was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Though she was supposed to be completed for the year 1876, looking back this can be seen as a minor speed bump in the long history of the Statue of Liberty.
Today folks principally flock to NY for Statue of Liberty tours. Even today she's an grand presense and visitors can be stare up at the big statue and pedestal, which from the base to the end of her torch measures 305 feet 6 inches in height. She also weighs a huge 225 tons. For people that need to climb and peer out over the vast harbour that so many rejoiced in reaching, the staircase inside is 154 steps up to her head.
The Statue of Liberty was first meant as a present to the US citizens from the French. It was to celebrate the hundredth year of the Declaration of Independence. The gift also designated the comradeship that had developed between the two countries in the Revolutionary War. Even though it was supposed to be completed in 1876, the initial plans didn't work out.
The statue itself was licensed to Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, but the entire process was a joint effort from each side of the pond. Thanks to a shortage in funds from both nations the project was initially delayed. Fundraisers were held to raise the needed money in France to insure the statue would rise on the edge of America. Meanwhile on the North American side, the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer pulled out all of the stops with his newspaper "The World" to help the American people step up to the plate. Eventually 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 was not finished for another 8 years.
Once the Statue was complete in France in July of 1884, it took just about a complete year to arrive on the shores of Big Apple Harbor. She made her 1st 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 ultimately arrived in New York in numerous pieces it needed to be put together, no straightforward task for a monument so massive. After the 4 month process of assembling the final statue, she was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Though she was supposed to be completed for the year 1876, looking back this can be seen as a minor speed bump in the long history of the Statue of Liberty.
Today folks principally flock to NY for Statue of Liberty tours. Even today she's an grand presense and visitors can be stare up at the big statue and pedestal, which from the base to the end of her torch measures 305 feet 6 inches in height. She also weighs a huge 225 tons. For people that need to climb and peer out over the vast harbour that so many rejoiced in reaching, the staircase inside is 154 steps up to her head.
About the Author:
Jeff Myers has been interested in tours of new york city for many years. He has written many articles about this subject, including transient histories and the top most interesting facts. For the details about tours of new york city come and visit http://www.nyccitytours.org
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