Statue of Liberty celebrates 130 years
America’s iconic Statue of Liberty was dedicated 130 years ago in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland as a gift to the U.S. from the people of France--a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Though parts of The Statue of Liberty, originally known as “Liberty Enlightening the World,” arrived in New York City on June 17, the statue didn’t open until October 28, 1886.
Here, the head of the Statue of Liberty can be seen on display in the garden at the Champ de Mars at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1878. It was put on display to help raise money to complete the project of building Lady Liberty.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty’s hand holding the torch on display at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The arm was also displayed in Madison Square Park in New York City from 1876 to 1882.
The copper statue was designed by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel.
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, c1894.
Lady Liberty was constructed in France, brought over in crates -- 350 pieces in 200 boxes --and assembled in New York on Bedloe’s Island. The island was renamed Liberty Island in 1956.
Statue of Liberty
Workmen constructing the Statue of Liberty in Bartholdi's Parisian warehouse workshop, c.1882.
Joseph Pulitzer collected the additional funds required to complete the statue's construction.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, seen here at its inauguration, was sometimes referred to as "the Bartholdi Statue," back in the day.
Here, Lady Liberty is partly clouded by smoke from military and naval vessels marking the President Grover Cleveland's arrival at Liberty Island; steamboats in foreground: "Magnolia" and "Myndert Starin," 1886.
Statue of Liberty
A lithograph of The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor with an inset portrait of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi in the upper left corner, c1886.
The arm that holds the torch was badly damaged by shockwaves in 1916, when the Germans set off an explosion on a pier opposite Ellis Island.
Statue of Liberty
This wood engraving shows the the unveiling of Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty, October 28th. President Cleveland passing through the fleet of assembled vessels in the launch Vixne, on his way to Bedloe's Island. Four sailors are in the foreground.
Statue of Liberty
The foot of the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, c1984.
Statue of Liberty
An illustration that appeared in Frank Leslie's newspaper on July 2, 1887, depicting a group of arriving immigrants on the deck of a boat in sight of the Statue of Liberty as they arrive in New York Harbor.