Statue of Liberty Wiki. The Statue of Liberty
On October 28, 1886, the most famous monument of the United States of America, the legendary Statue of Liberty, was opened under cannon shots, siren roars and incessant fireworks. From that day on, every ship entering the port of New York meets a stone statue of a woman with a torch of freedom in her hand, outstretched to the sky.
History of the Statue of Liberty
Surprisingly, main character freedom of the United States - the brainchild of French masters. It was in Paris that the Statue was born. Then it was dismantled into parts and transported through. Here it was assembled again and installed on a powerful plinth, which the Americans themselves had built by Bedloe's Island, now Liberty Island. Liberty Island, on which the statue is located, is federal property in the state of New York. The island is located closer to the coast of New Jersey, which is why some mistakenly attribute it to the state of New Jersey.
The idea of creating the Statue of Liberty appeared in 1865 with the academician Edouard de Laboulaye. The author of the Statue of Liberty itself is a sculptor from Alsace, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, at that time still a young and unknown master. A few years earlier, Bartholdi had conceived the construction of a huge lighthouse on the Suez Canal. According to his plans, this lighthouse should be in the form of a female figure. In the hands of the sculpture was supposed to hold a torch, the light from which was supposed to illuminate the way for the sailors. But at one time, the idea with a lighthouse on the Suez Canal was rejected. That is why the young sculptor responded with great enthusiasm to the idea of Edouard de Laboulaye.
When creating the sculpture, Bartholdi repeatedly turned to Delacroix's painting "Liberty Leading the People to the Barricades". It was the image of Liberty from this canvas that became the main prototype for the Statue of Liberty. According to one version, Bartholdi even had an American model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, a sewing machine entrepreneur. "...Being a beautiful, French widow of an American entrepreneur, she proved to be a suitable model for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty." (Ruth Brandon, "The Singer and the Sewing Machine: A Capitalist Romance").
To create the statue, engineer Gustave Eiffel was invited, who would later become famous as the author of the famous. Eiffel developed an ingenious metal frame structure supported by a central support post. On this movable frame, the outer, that is, the visible shell of the statue, made of copper with a thickness of 2.4 millimeters, was strengthened. Bartholdi began by building a small figure, only 1.2 meters in size, and then made three more others, gradually making them larger. They were corrected and completed until the optimal variant was reached.
By mutual agreement, America was to build a pedestal, and - to create a statue and install it in the United States. To avoid financial difficulties, special funds were organized that were engaged in the search for funds. In France, funds were collected by arranging entertainment events and lotteries. They organized theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing fights. However, the accumulation of funds for the podium was slow, and Joseph Pulitzer (known as the founder of the Pulitzer Prize) issued an appeal in his newspaper "World" to support the fundraising for the project's fund. This had an effect and contributed to an increase in donations from the Americans.
The statue was completed in France in July 1884 and delivered to New York Harbor on June 17, 1885 aboard the French frigate Ysere. For transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 parts and packed in 214 boxes. The statue was assembled on its new base in four months. The grand opening of the Statue of Liberty, at which US President Grover Cleveland spoke, took place on October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators.
In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was inscribed on the World Heritage List. In 1986, before the centennial anniversary, the monument was temporarily closed for a thorough restoration and reopened to visitors on July 5, 1986.
Features of the Statue of Liberty
Today the Statue of Liberty is one of national symbols USA. Rising at the mouth of the Hudson at the entrance to New York Harbor, a woman in elegant, flowing clothes, carrying a torch, personifies the freedom and opportunities of the country. On her head is a crown with seven prongs representing the seven seas and seven continents. At the feet of a woman are the broken bonds of tyranny. In the woman's left hand, she holds a slab with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, inscribed on it.
The statue was made from thin sheets of copper minted in wooden moulds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.
The height of the Statue (by the way, it was originally called more pompously - “Freedom, bringing light to the world”) is 46 meters, so if we also take into account the 47-meter pedestal, the top of the torch is at a height of 93 meters above the ground. The weight of the monument is 205 tons. The length of the right hand, in which the torch is in, is 12.8 meters, and the index finger alone is 2.4 meters long, the width of the mouth is 91 centimeters.
A spiral staircase inside the statue leads tourists to the top. The statue is usually open to visitors, who usually arrive by ferry. The crown, which can be reached by stairs, offers extensive views of New York Harbor.
In 1972, the Museum of American Settlement was opened inside the Statue itself, which can be reached by a special elevator. The whole history of the country is presented here: from the ancestors - the Indians, who inhabited the then unknown continent, and up to the mass migration in the current century.
Opinions about the Statue of Liberty are completely contradictory. Nothing like this was seen in America before the erection of this sculpture. Connoisseurs noted the high technique of execution, the clarity of proportions and the gracefulness of lines. But opponents of those who recognized the Liberty Monument as the eighth wonder of the world noted that the symbol of Liberty in the form of a statue is interpreted too coldly and dispassionately. It is no coincidence that the epithet appeared that Freedom is “blind”, and greatness is transmitted only by large sizes.
However, evil tongues are not a hindrance to Freedom. Around the world, the Statue is considered the Symbol of the United States, embodying the democratic principles that this country is so proud of.
The Statue of Liberty or, as it is also called, Lady Liberty, has symbolized the spread of freedom and democracy for many years. A striking symbol of liberation is the trampling of broken fetters by the statue. Impressive structure located on the mainland North America in New York, invariably appears to the eyes of all its guests and gives the most unforgettable experience.
Creation of the Statue of Liberty
The monument went down in history as a gift to the United States from the French government. By official version this event took place in honor of America's celebration of 100 years since independence, as well as a sign of friendship between the two states. The author of the project was the leader of the French anti-slavery movement Edouard Rene Lefebvre de Labuela. 
Work on the creation of the statue began in 1875 in France and was completed in 1884. They were headed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a talented French sculptor. It was this outstanding person who for 10 years created the future symbol of freedom on a global scale in his art studio. 
The work was carried out in collaboration with the best minds of France. Gustave Eiffel, developer of the creation project eiffel tower, took part in the creation of the design of the inner steel frame of the famous statue. The work was continued by one of his assistants, engineer Maurice Kehlin. 
The solemn ceremony of presenting the French gift to American colleagues was scheduled for July 1876. An obstacle to the implementation of the plan was a banal lack of funds. US President Grover Cleveland was able to accept in a solemn ceremony a gift from the French government only 10 years later. The date of the ceremonial handover of the Statue was October 1886. Bedloe Island has been designated as the location for the historic ceremony. After 70 years, it received the name "Island of Freedom". 
Description of the legendary landmark
The Statue of Liberty is on the list of the world's most famous masterpieces. Her right hand proudly raises a torch, while her left hand displays a tablet with inscriptions. The inscription indicates the date major event for all the American people - Independence Day of the United States of America. 
The dimensions of Lady Liberty are impressive. Its height from the ground to the top of the torch is 93 meters. Head size - 5.26 meters, nose length - 1.37 m, eyes - 0.76 m, arms - 12.8 meters, the length of each hand is 5 m. The size of the plate is 7.19 m.
Curious what the Statue of Liberty is made of. It took at least 31 tons of copper to cast her body. The entire steel structure weighs in total about 125 tons. 
The 25 view windows located in the crown are a symbol of the wealth of the country. And the rays coming out of it in the amount of 7 pieces are a symbol of the seven continents and seas. In addition to this, they symbolize the expansion of freedom in all directions. 
Traditionally, the location of the monument is reached by ferry. Favorite place visiting is the crown. To enjoy the local landscapes and views of the New York coast from a height, you need to climb to a special platform inside it. To this end, visitors will have to overcome a large number of steps - 192 to the top of the pedestal, and then 356 already in the body itself. 
As a reward for the most persistent visitors, extensive views of New York with its picturesque surroundings open up. No less interesting is the pedestal where the museum with historical expositions located in it is located. 
Little known interesting facts about the Statue of Liberty
The period of creation and subsequent existence of the monument is filled interesting facts and stories. Some of them are not illuminated even when tourists visit New York City.
The first name of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is the name by which the masterpiece is known throughout the world. It was originally known as the Liberty Enlightening the World"-" Freedom Illuminating the World ". At first, instead of it, it was planned to erect a monument in the form of a farmer with a torch in his hand. The place of establishment was to be the territory of Egypt at the entrance to the Suez Canal. The drastically changed plans of the Egyptian government prevented this. 
The prototype of the face of the Statue of Liberty
The information is widespread that the face of the Statue of Liberty is nothing more than a fiction of the author. However, two versions of its origin are known. According to the first, the face of the famous model of French origin, Isabella Boyer, became the prototype of the face. According to another, Frederick Bartholdi immortalized the face of his own mother in the monument. 
Metamorphoses with color
Immediately after creation, the statue was distinguished by a bright golden-orange color. In St. Petersburg, visitors to the Hermitage can see a painting depicting it in its original form. Today, the monument has acquired a green color. This is due to patination, a process in which the metal acquires a blue-green hue when interacting with air. This transformation of the American symbol lasted for 25 years, which is captured in numerous photos. The copper coating of the statue naturally oxidized, which can be seen today. 
"Journeys" of the head of Lady Liberty
A little-known fact: before all the pieces of the French gift were collected in New York, the Statue of Liberty had to travel around the country disassembled for some time. Her head was exhibited in one of the Philadelphia museums in 1878. The French also decided to enjoy the unprecedented spectacle before she left for her destination. In the same year, the head was put on public display at one of the Paris exhibitions. 
Former record holder
In the 21st century, there are buildings that surpass the symbol of America in height and heaviness. However, during the development of the Statue project, its concrete base was the largest and largest concrete structure in the world. Outstanding records soon ceased to be such, but the monument is still associated in the world consciousness with everything majestic and new. 
Twins of the Statue of Liberty
Many copies of the American symbol have been created around the world, among which several dozen can be found in the United States itself. A couple of 9-meter copies can be seen in the vicinity of New York's National Liberty Bank. Another copy, reduced to 3 meters, holding the Bible, adorns the state of California. 
The official twin copy of the monument appeared in the late 80s of the XX century. The Americans presented it to the French people as a token of friendship and gratitude. Today this gift can be seen in Paris on one of the islands of the Seine rivers. The copy is reduced, however, it is able to hit others with an 11-meter height. 
Residents of Tokyo, Budapest, Lvov erected their own copies of the monument.
The authorship of a copy reduced to a minimum belongs to the inhabitants of western Ukraine - the sculptor Mikhail Kolodko and the architect Alexander Bezik. You can see this masterpiece of modern art in Uzhgorod, in Transcarpathia. The comic sculpture is made of bronze, is only 30 cm high and weighs about 4 kg. Today it symbolizes the desire of the local population for self-expression and is known as the smallest replica in the world. 
Extreme "adventures" of the monument
The Statue of Liberty has gone through a lot in its lifetime. In July 1916, a brutal terrorist attack took place in America. On the island of Liberty located near the island of Black Tom Island, explosions were heard, comparable in strength to an earthquake of about 5.5 points. Their culprits were saboteurs from Germany. During these events, the monument received severe damage to some of its parts. 
In 1983, in front of a large audience, illusionist David Copperfield conducted an unforgettable experiment in the disappearance of the Statue of Liberty. The original focus was a success. The huge statue really disappeared, and the stunned audience tried in vain to find a logical explanation for what they saw. In addition to performing miracles, Copperfield surprised with a ring of light around the Statue of Liberty and another next to it. 
Today, the symbol of the United States still towers majestically in the sky over New York, retains its important global significance and is the pride of the American nation. For America itself and other states, it is associated with the spread of democratic values, freedom and independence throughout the world. Since 1984, the Statue has become part of world heritage UNESCO.
Where is the Statue of Liberty located?
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous famous characters American freedom. It is located on Liberty Island in the middle of the Hudson River in New York, USA.
What was the Statue of Liberty built for?
Statue of Liberty, his official name sounds like this - “freedom, illuminates the world”, also has another affectionate name, like “lady of freedom”, which has become one of the symbols of freedom and democracy. Classical appearance statue is the prototype of the statue ancient rome Goddess of freedom, which was built against the oppression of the people and tyranny.
Height of the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty is the figure of a woman holding a torch. The statue is made of pure copper, which is set on a base of steel, which in turn is covered with gold leaf. She stands on top of a rectangular stone pedestal in the shape of an irregular star. The statue has a height of 46 meters, if you add a pedestal and foundation here, you get 93 meters. The face of the Statue of Liberty is 2.4 meters high. The Statue of Liberty weighs over 225 tons.
What is inside the Statue of Liberty?
Inside the statue there is a staircase with 354 steps that goes to its top. It has 25 viewing windows on its crown. The seven rays of freedom in the crown of the statue symbolize the seven continents of the world and the seven seas. His torch signifies enlightenment. The tablet in the hand of the Statue of Liberty means knowledge, where the date of the declaration of independence of the United States is written in Roman numerals: "July IV MDCCLXXVI". The statue is located in the central part of the island and is a national monument, which is under the protection of the service national parks.
History of the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty signifies the alliance between France and the United States during the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi. The French at one time donated money for the construction of the statue.
The first model of the Statue of Liberty, in 1870, was built on a small scale. The story begins with this, this was the first statue that is now in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. And the second copy of the statue, also on a small scale, is located in the city of Maceio in northeastern Brazil.
Meanwhile, during the construction of the statue of Liberty Bartholdi, the help of engineers was required to solve certain design problems that are associated with the installation of a colossal copper sculpture. Eiffel Tower designer Gustav Fiffel was commissioned to design the statue's huge skeletal base that would allow it to stand upright.
On June 30, 1878, at the Paris Exhibition, the head of the Statue of Liberty was exhibited, which was organized in the garden of the Trocadero Palace. At that time, like others, parts of the statue were shown in another exhibition at Champs de Mars.
By an act of the US Congress in 1877, it was decided to bring and install the statues of Liberty to America. General William Sherman was chosen to be commissioned for delivery and installation. The place of construction and installation of the statue was also chosen - an island on the Hudson River.
On February 18, 1879, Bartholdi was issued a US patent for the industrial design of the statue No. D11,023. The decision to finance the Statue of Liberty was made in July 1882.
After the statue was ready to ship to the United States, there were some problems with the meltdown through Atlantic Ocean. The pedestal on which she was supposed to stand did not fit into the vessel. But still, the statue was prepared for transportation across the ocean, it was divided into 350 separate parts and then packed into 214 boxes.
Finally, on June 17, 1886, the statue arrived in New York Harbor, and was officially installed on the massive Memorial, designed by Richard Morris. Which was built with funds raised by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
In 1956, the US Congress passed the Wood Island "Liberty Island" Act.
Wood Island, in turn, was built and fortified with a plinth in the 19th century, of concrete and granite in the shape of a limited star, to protect New York during the war in 1812.
The statue was in conservation, boxes, for eleven months, waiting for its pedestal. In the United States, the first nail in the statue's construction was hammered in by the French minister, P. Levi Morton. The long-awaited construction and installation began.
Finally, on October 28, 1886, it was inaugurated by President Grover Cleveland in front of thousands of spectators.
In 1924, the monument was declared a national monument. And in 1933, the statue was transferred to the National Park Service. By the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, between 1984 and 1986, it was reconstructed.
Like others historical monuments administered by the National Park Service, Liberty statue, along with Ellis Island and Liberty, in 1966 it was listed on the National Register historical sites. And in 1972, President Nixon, at the base of the pedestal, opened the American Museum dedicated to immigration.
The Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. And in 2007, he was among the 20 finalists in the New Seven Wonders of the World competition.
Millions of tourists from all over the world visit the Statue of Liberty every year. And through the observation deck of the statue, a beautiful view opens up in which you can spend your own.
The Statue of Liberty became an international symbol of freedom. Have you been there, write in the comments.
A very large number of tourists visiting the United States of America go there with only one purpose - to see the Statue of Liberty. What features of this sculpture have been attracting the attention of travelers and local residents, with which interesting facts the history of its appearance is connected, as well as the city where the Statue of Liberty is located, and in what other countries of the world can you see copies of this work? You will learn this and much more from this article.
Symbol of New York and USA
Anyone who is at least a little interested in history knows where the Statue of Liberty is located. One of the most famous sculptures of the whole world is located in the state of New York on an island that once bore the name Bedloe, but after the placement of this masterpiece on it, it is not called anything other than “Liberty Island”. In addition to its stunning size, it is distinguished by deep meaning and fullness, and the art of execution that a talented sculptor was able to show even when working with such a huge structure is simply amazing. Even the indigenous people regularly visit the place where the Statue of Liberty is located, and what can we say about tourists. This monument is interesting not only externally. It distinguishes rich story. He has seen a lot in his almost two hundred years of his life and will see a lot more. From a height of almost 70 meters, given the height of the pedestal, this symbol of independence and peace looks at a person.
What does the Statue of Liberty look like, where is it, in what country?
Although the creation of this masterpiece was timed to coincide with the centenary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and is considered a gift from the French, it would be correct to call it a joint work of the best masters of these two peoples. Even when the work was in full swing, what will it look like in final version the Statue of Liberty was not fully known. There is an opinion that even the Egyptian government was asked to receive this work of art as a gift, but it considered it too costly to transport and install it.
If the execution of the sculpture itself was laid on the shoulders of the French, then the Americans were required to find a suitable place where the Statue of Liberty would be after arriving in the country, and prepare a reliable pedestal for it.
Merit of two nations
Both peoples simply did not have enough funds to complete the work, so they went to various tricks to raise money. Theatrical performances, auctions, charitable gatherings, various entertainment events were held, the purpose of which was to attract as many sponsors as possible. As a result, the goal was achieved, the right amount Money collected and the work was completed, although ten years late from the planned deadline, but today it is not so important.
Not less well-known analogues
The statue, located on Liberty Island, has no less professionally made copies and analogues in many countries of the world. They also receive the attention of tourists and local residents, but always, despite their value to the owner country, on a global scale they will remain only a semblance of the world-famous cultural and historical heritage of America.
Those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located in France will be given seven answers at once. There are four in Paris alone. The Parisian museum holds a smaller model of the New York statue and is the most significant for history buffs. Just two meters high, a copy of the famous sculpture can be seen in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, and near the Eiffel Tower there is already a rather large, eleven-meter analogue. It is already a return gift from the Americans to the French and is installed in the direction to the west, that is, as if facing the original. It symbolizes peace between the two nations.
It deserves attention
In the place where the life of everyone's beloved Princess Diana tragically ended, there is also a monument to Freedom. It was erected long before the tragic events, but it became especially visited after them. His torch is constantly filled with bouquets of flowers brought by the fans of the deceased.
Tourists who visit Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer do not leave this city without a photo taken near the gilded sculpture. Its form is copied from the New York original, but the luminous torch distinguishes it from all its fellows. "Glowing Freedom" - that's what the locals call it.
In a small square in Poitiers, in memory of Frederic Bartholdi, who created that very American statue, a copy of the masterpiece he created was also installed on the centenary of his death. The area has the same name, and it is not at all difficult for tourists to find it.
For those who are interested in where the Statue of Liberty is located, the country of Japan has prepared a wonderful surprise. On the island of Odaiba in Tokyo, there is a beautiful monument, which is almost an exact copy of the world-famous statue. It was made very skillfully, and every person who visits the capital of Japan will definitely bring memorable pictures taken near it.
Did you know?
It turns out that even in Russia and Ukraine you can find places where the Statue of Liberty is located. Few people know in what city such specimens are located, but in Moscow, guides will definitely tell you about the monument to Nikolai Andreev, which, unfortunately, has not survived to our time, as it was destroyed, but the head of the monument is still kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. In Ukraine, the smallest statue of Liberty in the world, located in the city of Uzhgorod, deserves special attention. Its height is only 30 cm, and its weight is 4 kg, but nevertheless it brings quite a lot of benefits, as it is an operating lighthouse on the Uzh River. And in Lviv there is the only sitting Statue of Liberty in the world, a huge number of tourists come to see it every year.
Symbols of freedom have always been and will be relevant for any nation. Freedom and peace are among the greatest values of mankind. Being close to the majestic monuments of architecture, one can simply physically feel that pressure, that fortitude that was inherent in the fighters for a free and independent existence and allowed them to free themselves from the oppression of the invaders.
When asked where the Statue of Liberty is located, everyone will probably answer immediately and without delay: “In America!”. In our time, this country without a monument that would so vividly signal the freedom of speech, thought and democracy is rather difficult to imagine, and perhaps even impossible. Some are surprised by the size of this sculpture (after all, its height, together with the pedestal, is no less than 93 m), others like the idea inherent in the statue, others consider it one of the greatest monuments of modern art.
The real name of this statue sounds a little different and translated from English means: "Freedom that illuminates the world" . Although most believe that since the Statue of Liberty is in America, it means that it was born there, in fact, this is not the case. This steel woman is the most Frenchwoman: she was made in France and a resident of this country served as a prototype for her. As for the sculpture itself, it is a gift from the French in honor of the centenary of America's independence.
The Statue of Liberty in New York is not the largest monument in the world, but its height, like other parameters, is still amazing (if only because one of her tiny nails weighs about one and a half kilograms):
- The height of the monument is about 47 m;
- The height of the pedestal is 46 m;
- The weight of copper sheets is 31 tons, while their thickness is 2.57 mm;
- The steel structure and frame weigh -125 tons;
- The weight of the concrete base is 27 thousand tons.
Despite their rather impressive size, in the presence of strong wind the statue of Liberty sways a little - the range of oscillation in some cases may well be about 7.6 cm, for the torch - even more - about 12.7 cm. This does not affect its stability in any way, since the development of a structure made of a strong iron support and a frame that allows Eiffel himself, the creator of the famous French tower, was engaged in moving the statue, maintaining the balance of the monument.
What is the monument made of?
Since the stone is quite difficult to process, and besides, it is extremely heavy during transportation (especially across the ocean), it was decided to make the Statue of Liberty in the USA hollow inside, and sheathe the steel support with sheets made of copper. The development of a massive frame was entrusted to Gustave Eiffel, and the Parisian firm of Cage and Gauthier took up the sheathing (at the same time, sheets were minted in wooden molds, and copper was purchased in Russia).
It is noteworthy that the Statue of Liberty is green these days. So, it was not always - as soon as it was installed - it was a bright, golden-orange tone.
Such a transformation occurred for a rather banal reason: the copper sheets with which it was sheathed oxidized after a few decades - and turned green, so only written memories remained about the previous color of this monument.
What does the monument look like?
By itself, the Statue of Liberty in the United States looks grandiose and majestic. The monument is located on Liberty Island near Manhattan and represents a woman whose height is 93 meters. She is dressed in a toga, clothes reminiscent of the principles of ancient democracy, stands proudly straightened, and holds a torch in her right hand, symbolizing the Enlightenment. At the same time, her left hand presses a tablet to itself, on which the cherished date for Americans is engraved in Latin letters: “07/14/1776” - the day the US Declaration of Independence was adopted.
One leg of a steel woman tramples on broken chains, symbolizing slavery. In the middle of the monument, there is a staircase that allows you to climb the stairs (and there are 356 of them in total) to the observation deck, which was located in its crown, while half of the road can be somewhat shortened and an elevator can be reached to the top of the pedestal (these are 192 steps). The crown has 25 windows symbolizing natural resources Earth, and on top of it are decorated with seven rays, denoting the seven continents.
How the monument was created
The history of the Statue of Liberty is notable for the fact that it was created in several countries at once, money was collected for a long time, transported in parts, and some of its details even took part in exhibitions.
The concept of such a monument was developed by the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Who exactly posed for him, there are several hypotheses. According to one of them, the statue is extremely similar to the sculptor's mother, Charlotte. According to another, her face belongs to the recently widowed Isabella Boyer, whose husband was the famous Isaac Singer, the creator of a series of famous sewing machines.
Location selection
In which city the Statue of Liberty would be located, Bartholdi decided. Of all the options offered to him in the United States, he liked Bedloe Island near New York, three kilometers from Manhattan. After the installation of the statue, people quickly renamed it Liberty Island, although this name was officially fixed only in the middle of the 20th century.
Fundraising
France and the United States entered into an agreement between themselves that America would build the pedestal and pay for the installation, while the other side was responsible for the manufacture of the monument and its transportation. How expensive the project turned out to be, it became clear almost immediately - there was not enough money for it both in one and in another country.
Therefore, both here and there, events aimed at raising funds were held. The French parted with their funds much more willingly than the Americans. It was both money contributed as donations, and for participation in various entertainment evenings, lotteries. Bartoli managed to interest even the government of the Third Republic (the main argument is America as an ally against European monarchies hostile to France). Quite quickly they collected more than two million francs.
At the same time, the Americans were in no hurry to part with money - the Statue of Liberty did not particularly impress them, the fiery speeches of Bartoli, who traveled from city to city, did not give any special results and they refused to donate money, and Rockefeller said that this idea was complete nonsense.
Despite the fact that in 1883 the architect Richard Morris Hunt had already designed the pedestal, due to lack of funding, work could well have stopped if the well-known publisher and journalist Joseph Pulitzer had not taken up the cause.
First, he offered to publish the names of absolutely all the people who would give money for the construction. And secondly, he made extremely harsh criticism, addressing the representatives of the middle and upper classes - his articles were so convincing that in a fairly short time they managed to collect more than one hundred thousand dollars.
In the USA, by 1885, the entire required amount was collected, and in early August, the pedestal was finally erected on the island (at the same time, cement for the construction of the foundation was brought to the USA from Germany). This work lasted about eight months - and by the end of construction it was the largest concrete foundation on the planet in those years.
Works in Paris
The French worked much faster, and by the end of 1881 the statue was almost ready - it only needed to be assembled, which was done. After Assembly main entrance into the statue was in front, the emergency exit was in the heel of his left foot. So observation deck, which was equipped in the crown, they led a ladder to the torch and planned to supply gas, but just by this time Edison had invented electricity, and it was decided to stop at this option.
By 1884, all work on the part of the French was completed. The monument was assembled, staged a grand opening attended by US Ambassador and Prime Minister Ferry, and dismantled to be transported across the ocean. Since the pedestal on the island was not ready by this time, the statue began to travel from city to city, in parts.
Travel statue on a pedestal
Before the gift from the French democrats was delivered and installed in its place, the Statue of Liberty managed to travel around the world. For example, her head, whose height is 5.26 m, as well as her hand with a torch, were seen by Paris, Philadelphia, Madison Square, where they visited expositions and anyone could look at them.
In total, it took 214 boxes to transport the sculpture across the ocean, and it was divided into more than three hundred parts. It took about four months to assemble the monument upon arrival at Bedloe Island. And they connected it to the pedestal with the help of two steel lintels, connected by anchor beams, which go up and connect there with the frame of the statue.
Opening
Despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty was already assembled in April 1886, due to various organizational reasons, the grand opening on the island took place in mid-autumn. A gift commemorating the centenary of the American Revolution was a decade late. Interestingly, for quite a long time it was not only a monument to freedom and democracy, but also served as a beacon, which quite successfully coped with its duties.
