Head of the Statue of Liberty on display at the Paris World's Fair in 1878

It all began with Édouard René de Laboulaye, a French law professor and politician, who said at a dinner party, “If a monument should rise in the United States, as a memorial to their independence, I should think it only natural if it were built by united effort—a common work of both our nations.” A sculptor at this same party named Frédéric Bartholdi took the statement to heart and immediately began sketches of what is now the Statue of Liberty.

Ten years later in 1875, the project went from a vision to a reality. The French agreed to finance the statue and America would provide the pedestal. The copper used to create the sculpture was donated by a French miner, and the destination chosen for the construction was Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island). The location was very desirable to Bartholdi, and he was pleased to know it was owned by the U.S. government. Despite the eagerness to carry through with the statue, France and America were recovering from certain money struggles: the French with the Franco-Prussian War and both with the Panic of 1873. Fundraisers were successful enough, though, to finish the statue by 1886.

The dedication was an exciting event with an estimated 1,000,000 people in attendance at the parade. It began at Madison Square and went all the way to Battery Park. Only certain officials were allowed on the island for the dedication, but the unveiling could still be seen from the not-too-distant shore.

Description of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty from the Chicago Tribune

The only thing missing from the celebration was the fireworks, which were rescheduled for 1 November when the weather would be more cooperative.

The statue has survived for many years and continues to welcome the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Find more stories about the Statue of Liberty in Fold3’s Newspapers collection.

Liberty Enlightening the World