The Statue of Liberty: Building an Icon

Summary

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, was a groundbreaking 19th-century engineering feat. Conceived by Edouard de Laboulaye and designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it faced significant financial and technical challenges. With Gustave Eiffel's innovative engineering, the statue's flexible iron framework supported its thin copper skin. Fundraising campaigns and public support were crucial for its completion. Today, it stands as an icon at the gateway to America, a testament to human engineering prowess.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The Statue of Liberty is a globally recognized symbol of freedom and democracy, located in New York Harbor.
• 🏗️ It was a groundbreaking engineering achievement of the 19th Century, setting records for its height, concrete pour, and copper usage.
• 🎉 Conceived by Edouard de Laboulaye in 1865, the statue was intended to celebrate the centenary of American independence and the friendship between the United States and France.
• 🗝️ French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue, which represents the Roman goddess Libertas.
• 🤝 France was responsible for financing the statue, while the United States provided the site and constructed the pedestal.
• 💸 Fundraising campaigns were conducted on both sides of the Atlantic to finance the statue and its pedestal.
• 👷‍♂️ The statue's construction involved top French professionals, including architects Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Gustave Eiffel, who contributed to its innovative design.
• 🔨 The statue's skin is made of copper sheets, hammered to a thickness of less than 2.4 mm, making it lightweight for its size.
• 🌪️ Eiffel's design allowed for flexibility, enabling the statue to withstand winds and temperature changes without damage.
• 🌐 The statue was assembled in France, disassembled for shipping, and then reassembled in New York on its completed pedestal.

Q & A

What is the symbolic meaning of the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, representing hope for millions and synonymous with the ideals of the United States.

Who conceived the idea of the Statue of Liberty and why?

The Statue of Liberty was conceived by French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist Edouard de Laboulaye in 1865 to celebrate the centenary of American independence and to honor the friendship between the United States and France.

Who was the sculptor responsible for designing the Statue of Liberty?

French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was responsible for designing the Statue of Liberty, which he began in 1870.

What was the original name given to the Statue of Liberty?

The original name given to the Statue of Liberty was 'Liberty Enlightening the World', which she retained until 1924 when she became a National Monument and was officially renamed 'The Statue of Liberty'.

How was the Statue of Liberty financed and by whom?

France was responsible for financing the statue itself, while the United States was responsible for providing a site and constructing the pedestal. Fundraising campaigns were conducted on both sides of the Atlantic to finance each element.

What was unique about the construction of the Statue of Liberty's right arm?

The right arm, bearing the torch, was one of the first parts to be fabricated and was displayed at the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 to help gain public support for the project.

Who were the key professionals involved in the statue's construction?

Key professionals involved in the statue's construction included sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, and engineer Gustave Eiffel.

What was innovative about Gustave Eiffel's design for the Statue of Liberty?

Gustave Eiffel's design was innovative because it used a central iron pylon as the primary support for the structure, which was an early example of curtain wall construction where the exterior is not load-bearing and is instead supported by an interior framework.

How did the Statue of Liberty withstand wind and temperature changes?

Eiffel's design allowed the statue to be flexible, enabling it to withstand winds and temperature changes without cracking. The statue can move by as much as 3 inches in strong winds.

What was the process for assembling and shipping the Statue of Liberty to the United States?

The statue was originally assembled in France, then disassembled, packed into 214 crates, and shipped to the United States aboard the French Navy ship Isère.

Who designed the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and what were the construction challenges?

Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal, which was an impressive construction feat in itself. The construction challenges included securing funding and the largest mass concrete pour at the time to create the pedestal.

How long did it take for the Statue of Liberty to fully oxidize and turn green?

It took more than 20 years after its unveiling in 1886 for the Statue of Liberty to fully oxidize and turn the distinctive green color we see today.