The Statue of Liberty was created in Paris by Gustave Eiffel and French artist Bartholdi. Over time, the Statue has evolved into much more than what it was originally intended to be — a symbol, a sign of the friendship between the people of France and the United States, and a declaration of their shared love of liberty. Now an international emblem of freedom, the Statue of Liberty stands in Upper New York Bay. Learn more about the Statue of Liberty history, why was the Statue of Liberty built? When the Statue of Liberty was built and how was the Statue of Liberty built? Let us have a closer inspection into the Statue of Liberty height, the Statue of Liberty facts, and learn more about the Statue of Liberty.
What Is The Statue of Liberty?
An icon, the pride of the USA, and one of the world’s most recognizable figures — the Statue of Liberty is a colossal statue, made over a steel framework, constructed from sheets of thinly pounded copper. 250,000 pounds of steel and 62,000 pounds of copper make up the statue.
Every year, millions of people who value the statue’s ideals travel far and long to encounter her history and grandeur in person. The Statue of Liberty has become a symbol of liberty, inspiration, freedom, and hope.
A Glance At The Statue of Liberty Height
The Statue of Liberty height is governed by a distance from the pedestal to the torch of the Statue of Liberty of 151 feet. The total height is 305 feet when the base and foundation are factored in. The Statue of Liberty is perched brazenly atop an 89-foot foundation that is 65 feet tall and shaped like 11 pointed stars.
The Statue of Liberty History
To learn about the Statue of Liberty history, we must start from the very beginning. The French gave the United States the Statue of Liberty as a gift to honor their support of the United States during the American Revolution.
A French political theorist and abolitionist named, Edouard de Laboulaye, first proposed the Statue of Liberty for the United States in 1865. The dedication of this memorial would honor both the friendship between the United States and France and the 100th anniversary of American independence. French sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi used De Laboulaye’s idea as inspiration when he began construction on the “Liberty Enlightening the World” statue in 1870.
As per the Statue of Liberty history, this is what governed the initial history and making of the statue. Its creation and recognition at the time were one of the most significant technological accomplishments of the 19th century. It was seen as a link between engineering and art. France gave the USA a gift on July 4, 1884, the Statue of Liberty, a colossal statue commemorating the friendship between the two countries.
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When The Statue of Liberty Was Built?
Coming to the question of when the Statue of Liberty was built, it was in July 1884 that the Statue’s French construction was finished. On what was then known as Bedloe’s Island, the statue was constructed in France, transported overseas in containers, and then put together on the finished pedestal.
How Was The Statue of Liberty Built And Who Designed It?
Tracing back to a period before its conception we can understand how was the Statue of Liberty built. French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi appeared to develop a passionate interest in liberty, one of the guiding principles of France.
As the 100th anniversary of America’s independence drew near, the French historian Edouard Laboulaye suggested that the United States be granted a statue honoring the cooperation between France and the United States during the American Revolution.
Bartholdi agreed to this suggestion, and they raised funds to actually have it built. Hence, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, drawing inspiration from Edouard Laboulaye, worked on the design of the statue.
Why Was The Statue of Liberty Built?
To know why was the Statue of Liberty built, we need to go back to our aforementioned discussion. Laboulaye was a fervent supporter of America and wanted to celebrate both the intimate ties between France and America and the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The recent abolition of slavery in the United States, which advanced America’s principles of liberty and freedom, also affected him. Bartholdi started planning the enormous building that would soon be known as Liberty Enlightening the World because he was the one who equally shared Laboulaye’s philosophy. The statue was erected for this purpose.
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The Statue of Liberty Facts
Besides being the symbol of hope and freedom, there are some of the Statue of Liberty facts that you ought to find quite interesting.
1. Color of the Statue of Liberty
You’d be surprised to know the original color of the Statue of Liberty! The statue was initially of faded, brown color, resembling a penny. This makes sense as it was made of copper plates.
By 1906, a green patina or a layer of copper carbonate had formed on it as a result of oxidation.
2. The Feet of Statue of Liberty
You’d be wondering, what is signified by the feet of the Statue. Why is it significant? You’d be surprised to know that there is philosophical importance behind this. Broken chains were left at Lady Liberty’s feet by Bartholdi, serving as a constant reminder of liberation from oppression, slavery, and servitude.
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Why Did France Give The Statue of Liberty To The USA As A Gift?
Since the American Revolutionary War, the French people have given the people of the United States a gift of friendship in the form of the Statue of Liberty. It is improbable that the American colonies would have won the Revolutionary War against the English monarchy without France’s assistance.
Hence, it is a symbol of friendship at the core of its being but it also emphasizes the mutually-shared philosophical attitude that both the countries propagated and fought for.
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