She greets everyone arriving in New York by sea … Freedom that illuminates the world. This is the name of the famous statue - the symbol of the United States. The Seal of Freedom and Democracy is a gift from France in honor of the anniversary of America's Independence.
Instructions
Step 1
"French stage" of the creation of the statue
The Declaration of Independence of the IV Congress of representatives of the British colonies, which laid the foundation for the new state, was adopted during the war of liberation in 1776. According to the Treaty of Versailles in 1783, Great Britain was forced to recognize the independence of the United States, which was greatly facilitated by prominent military leaders of France.
Step 2
Almost 100 years have passed. Admiring American freedoms, in a group of French intellectuals who opposed the rule of Napoleon III, at one of the "small talk" they expressed the idea of a gift-statue for America in honor of the 100th anniversary of independence. Among those present was the French sculptor Bartholdi, who supported the interesting project.
Step 3
The historian and lawyer Edouard Lebeil undertook to realize the grandiose idea. He offered America to take part of the huge expenses for the construction of "Freedom" on itself. France will "build" the statue itself, in the USA they will erect a pedestal and erect a monument.
Step 4
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi worked on the project. The enormous size and colossal weight of the sculpture also required the creation of an impressive supporting structure that could withstand tons of copper and maintain the stability of the statue in high winds. To develop this part of the project, engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel was invited, who brilliantly coped with the task.
Step 5
According to the assigned plan, it was not possible to complete the colossus monument, even though the workers “collected” the sculpture 7 days a week. It was decided to send to the United States only the hand of Freedom with a torch, timed "part of the gift" for the International Exhibition in Philadelphia (August 1876). The statue was completed only by May 1884, and on June 4 it was formally handed over to the US Ambassador to France.
Step 6
"American" stage
On February 22, 1877, the "American" period of the creation of the grandiose monument began, when Congress approved Bedlow Island, 3 km from Manhattan, as a site for the statue. In August 1994, the foundation stone was laid. The funds ($ 225,000) were raised by the American Building Committee and Joseph Pulitzer (journalist and philanthropist). In June 1885, 350 pieces of the statue, packed in 214 crates, were transported from Rune to New York on the frigate Isere. 300 thousand bronze rivets and 4 months of work were required to attach all parts to the metal frame. The pedestal was made from cement imported from Germany. On October 28, 1886, the President of the United States formally accepted the gift of the French people. The military parade and naval salute marked the solemn occasion. On October 15, 1924, the statue was declared a National State Monument of the United States.
Step 7
Little details of the Big American Lady
"Freedom illuminating the world" holds the symbol of the Enlightenment - a torch - in his right hand and a tablet with the inscription about the day of the adoption of Independence - in his left. One leg "stands" on broken chains. The seven-rayed crown of Lady Liberty is a symbol of 7 continents and 7 oceans (according to Western tradition). 25 windows in the crown - 25 precious minerals and rays that illuminate the world. The total weight of the structure is 125 tons. The height of the statue with a pedestal is 93 m, from the top of the pedestal to the top of the torch - 46 m. At the base of the statue there is the Museum of the American Settlement, which presents a historical exposition ranging from the first native Indians to the immigrants of the early 20th century.
