The Statue of Liberty
The last rivet on the Statue of Liberty was driven on October 28, 1886, when the statue was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland. A gift from France, the statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and was to be erected at the entrance of New York harbor as a symbol of freedom to welcome immigrants and others from around the world. The 225-ton statue arrived in 214 packing cases in June 1885 and was assembled on an American-built pedestal, the money for which was largely raised by Joseph Pulitzer. Lady Liberty, holding up her torch at the entrance of the harbor, remains one of America’s most recognized monuments.
Photo: www.libertystatepark.com
