History of the Statue of Liberty

• History of the Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world - was opened on July 4, US Independence Day, after repairs and work to eliminate the consequences of the Atlantic hurricane "Sandy" that hit the coast last fall. Symbol of New York and the United States is a gift of the people of France to the centennial of the American Revolution in 1886.

Collected here are photographs depicting the history of the Statue of Liberty from the moment she was born in Paris to the present day.

Generate the statue was commissioned by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. Conceived it as a gift to the centennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, we even had the French Bartholdi naturschitsa.

Studio in Paris, 1875.

By mutual agreement America was to build the pedestal, and France - to create an image, and install it in the United States. However, the lack of money was felt on both sides of the Atlantic. In France, charitable donations, along with a variety of entertainment events and lottery allowed to collect 2.25 million francs. In the United States to raise funds held theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions and boxing fights.

Left: the hand and the Statue of Liberty torch created in a studio in Paris, 1876. Right: is the creation of the Statue of Liberty's head in a Paris studio, 1880.

In the meantime, French sculptor Bartholdi needed an engineer to help solve structural issues related to the construction of a giant copper sculpture. Design a massive steel support was charged Gustave Eiffel (future creator Eiffel tower). Working to create an article in the Paris studio, 1882.

The statue was completed by the French in July 1884. Here it is worth about sculptor Bartholdi in Paris.

She was taken to New York June 17, 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere". For transportation on a statue 350 parts disassembled and packed in boxes 214. Place for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, approved by Act of Congress in 1877, was selected by General William Sherman, taking into account the wishes of the Bartholdi, on the island of Bedlow, where since the beginning of the XIX century was a fort in the shape of a star.

Inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, which was addressed by US President Grover Cleveland, took place October 28, 1886 in the presence of thousands of spectators.

New York, 1930. Statue of Liberty is often referred to as "a symbol of New York City and the United States", "symbol of freedom and democracy," "Lady Liberty".

The ocean liner Queen Mary and the Statue of Liberty, June 1, 1936. Some figures. Height from the ground to the top of the Statue of Liberty torch - 92.99 m, the height of the statue - 33.86 m, the height from the ground to the top of the pedestal - 46.94 m.

Bedlow Island, where established the Statue of Liberty was a slum area. Congressmen asked to allocate $ 1 million to clear the territory of the island. New York, March 5, 1948.

September 7, 1937 a national monument area was increased and spread to the entire island Bedlow, which in 1956 was renamed Liberty Island. In the photo: Visitors look out from the crown of the Statue, October 26, 1946.

New York, July 3, 1976.

In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan ordered to collect money and make the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. The restoration was raised 87 million dollars. July 4, 1984 restoration began.

The restoration of the Statue of Liberty, 1984.

Let's look inside. There is visible frame and various support structures, 1984.

April 4, 1985. Restoration of the Statue of Liberty continues.

The metal frame and a spiral staircase inside the statue, 1988.

Old torch Statue of Liberty.

This is the new torch and views of Manhattan, 1985.

At the beginning of the work of restoration, the Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. July 5, 1986 restored the Statue of Liberty was reopened to visitors during the weekend of Freedom, dedicated to its centennial.

The statue and the island were closed from September 11, 2001 to August 3, 2004 as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

August 4, 2004 the monument was opened, but the statue itself, including the crown remained closed.

The Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan, 26 October 2006. Incidentally, the Statue of Liberty are in other cities. Most copies of the Statue of Liberty is in her homeland - in France. In Paris, as many as four.

After the September 11 attacks 2001Ctatuya and her crown were again open for tours only on July 4, 2009. On Liberty Island and the Statue of visitors are still subject to restrictions, including personal searches similar to the security check at airports. Inside the crown of the statue of Liberty, June 2, 2009.

The view from the crown of the Statue on the right hand, she holds a torch, May 20, 2009.

The Statue of Liberty during a heavy storm October 29, 2011.

The Statue of Liberty and the space shuttle "Discovery" flying "on the back" from the mighty specially equipped aircraft, "Boeing-747", April 27, 2012.

In October 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Sandy made a devastating march across the North American continent, anyway paralyzed life 13 states. The very tall statue over 33 meters resisted during a hurricane, the consequences of which in New York is still not completely eliminated, but Liberty Island suffered severe flooding and power failure system. For restoration works were spent tens of millions of dollars.