A Roman Goddess from France with seven pointed Crown on her head, holding a tablet in left hand, aloft a torch in right hand, stands facing the Atlantic Ocean, is the ‘Statue of Liberty’ one of the tallest statues in the world. When we think about USA and/or plan to visit, the first thing that comes to the mind is the ‘Statue of Liberty’. It is a colossal neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Designed by French Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and structure engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was built in 1884 at France and gave to USA on 1886.
Why Statue Of Liberty Was Gifted To USA?
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| Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi |
In 1865, on 100th year of the American Declaration of Independence (4th July 1776 - 1876), Edourd de Laboulaye (a famous law professor and politician) of France created an idea to gift a giant statue on honor of the friendship and commitment to liberty among France and USA. The idea inspired to French Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi but couldn’t begin the work till 1870 due to several political disturbances. On 1875 Edourd de Laboulaye wished-for France’s financial support, American’s pedestal and the site to form the statue. Then the statue was built as per the designing of Bartholdi and engineering ideas of Gustave Eiffel in several pieces of works. Some of the pieces were exhibited in different international events before shipping to USA. On July 4, 1884 the giant statue was shipped across the Atlantic to USA with 350 pieces in 214 crates. The pieces were assembled at Bedloe’s Island and on October 28, 1886 it was inaugurated by the President Grover Cleveland with a grand ceremony and a ticker-tape parade.
What Is The Meaning Of ‘Statue Of Liberty’?
The ‘Statue of Liberty’ represents the Roman Goddess of Freedom – Libertas. The 46 meters (151 ft) tall statue is made up of pure copper, which holds a gold plated torch that expresses a symbol of welcoming the visitors to America. The tablet (evoking the law - tabula ansata) on the left hand represents the Declaration of Independence, upon which the date was inscribed. A broken chain which lies at her feet represents freedom from bonds; and the seven pointed crown symbolizes the seven oceans and seven continents – a welcoming signals to the voyagers.
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| First Lady Nancy Reagan Reopens Statue of Liberty in 1986 |
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| The Statue of Liberty |
