
Statue of Liberty
The statue was inspired by Édouard René de Laboulaye, a French law professor and politician, who commented in 1865 that any monument raised to U.S. independence would properly be a joint project of the French and American peoples. Bartholdi completed the head and the torch-bearing arm before the statue was fully designed and these pieces were showcased in international expositions. Fundraising for the pedestal encountered difficulty, especially in the United States, and was only successful thanks to Joseph Pulitzer's involvement. The statue was built in France and assembled in its place on Bedloo's Island. New York then held its first ticker-tape parade to celebrate and President Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremony.
The Statue of Liberty is maintained by the National Park Service, as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and it is a major tourist attraction. The public has been barred from access to the balcony around the torch since 1916. All in all, The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, democracy and a reminder of the struggles that the nation has overcome in its history. It is a must visit for tourists in New York City.





Statue of Liberty, sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, New York, United States
Location: New York City
Inception: 1886
Architect: Eugène Viollet-le-Duc
Height: 46 m
Material: copper, steel, concrete, granite, gold leaf
Website: nps.gov/stli/index.htm