Essay On The Hidden History Of The Statue Of Liberty
The Hidden History of the Statue of Liberty
It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the entire world. Standing guard in New York Harbor since 1886, the iconic Statue of Liberty has been one of New York City’s and America’s most treasured symbols for well over a century now. But did you know the statue actually has a very tumultuous history and, almost unbelievably, was almost never built? Here’s a quick look at the hidden history of the famed Statue of Liberty.
Origins
The genesis of the Statue of Liberty goes back to 1865 when French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi and antislavery activist Edouard Rene de Laboulaye met and decided that a monument should be created to recognize the upcoming centennial anniversary of the United States. Inspired by the idea, Bartholdi took to creating models for a new statue designed to symbolize American liberty, freedom and democracy. Dubbed “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the statue incorporated heavy symbolism such as a torch intended to symbolize the spread of liberty and a crown with seven points as a symbol of the sun, seven continents and seven seas.
Fundraising and Planning
In 1875, the Franco-American Union was formed …show more content…
The massive statue was assembled atop the newly-completed pedestal on Bedloe’s Island as famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead supervised the cleanup of the island. The statue was finally dedicated on October 28, 1886 with Bartholdi and President Grover Cleveland in attendance. The city’s first ticker tape parade was held for the occasion, marking a new tradition in New York City. The statue soon became a symbol for immigrants arriving in New York City at the turn of the 20th century and was named a National Monument in 1924 and New York City landmark in 1976. Even today, more than a century after its completion, the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most celebrated and iconic landmarks in the entire
It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the entire world. Standing guard in New York Harbor since 1886, the iconic Statue of Liberty has been one of New York City’s and America’s most treasured symbols for well over a century now. But did you know the statue actually has a very tumultuous history and, almost unbelievably, was almost never built? Here’s a quick look at the hidden history of the famed Statue of Liberty.
Origins
The genesis of the Statue of Liberty goes back to 1865 when French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi and antislavery activist Edouard Rene de Laboulaye met and decided that a monument should be created to recognize the upcoming centennial anniversary of the United States. Inspired by the idea, Bartholdi took to creating models for a new statue designed to symbolize American liberty, freedom and democracy. Dubbed “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the statue incorporated heavy symbolism such as a torch intended to symbolize the spread of liberty and a crown with seven points as a symbol of the sun, seven continents and seven seas.
Fundraising and Planning
In 1875, the Franco-American Union was formed …show more content…
The massive statue was assembled atop the newly-completed pedestal on Bedloe’s Island as famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead supervised the cleanup of the island. The statue was finally dedicated on October 28, 1886 with Bartholdi and President Grover Cleveland in attendance. The city’s first ticker tape parade was held for the occasion, marking a new tradition in New York City. The statue soon became a symbol for immigrants arriving in New York City at the turn of the 20th century and was named a National Monument in 1924 and New York City landmark in 1976. Even today, more than a century after its completion, the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most celebrated and iconic landmarks in the entire