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Contents
Exploring the Construction and Architecture of the Statue of Liberty
Architectural Highlights of the Statue of Liberty
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Constructing the Statue of Liberty
1. Conception
Edouard de Laboulaye decided to give something to the United States to commemorate the Declaration of Independence and the developing friendship between France and America. He was also impressed by the abolition of slavery that took place in the United States. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi began to build something out of this idea and decided to create a colossal structure, that is today known as the Statue of Liberty.
2. Designing Lady Liberty
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi began his work on building Lady Liberty and his design inspiration was a female figure from the neoclassical style of Libertas, the Roman Goddess of freedom. In the late 1860s, he worked to build a lighthouse at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, and it had a robed female structure bearing a torch, which was symbolic of progress.
3. Early Stages of Construction
Under the guidance of Bartholdi, construction of the statue began in 1876. Building the arm that would hold the torch was the first part, which was completed the same year. After two years, the head and shoulders of the statue was completed and kept on display at the Paris Universal Exposition. Work on the statue was completed by 1884, but the construction of the pedestal was still ongoing and experienced a delay due to a shortage of funds.
4. Funding
The Statue of Liberty was built in France and in America, where France took responsibility for building the statue, and the pedestal was built in America. In order to build the structure, funds were raised in France through crowdfunding events, such as entertainment, lottery, public fee system, and more. The United States also did similar things in order to raise funds for the pedestal. When there was a shortage of funds in order to build the pedestal, Joseph Pulitzer placed an ad in the newspaper inviting readers to donate to the cause.
5. Materials Used
The Statue of Liberty is built on an iron frame with thin sheets of copper plastered over it. Over the years, the color of the statue has changed from shiny reddish brown to a blue-green shade due to corrosion. The flame of the torch had a copper coating but was taken down due to intensive corrosion of water and snow leaking through the window panes. It was then replaced by a gold leaf-coated torch and is now held by Lady Liberty.
6. Transporting the Statue
The Statue of Liberty was built in France and arrived in New York on June 17, 1885. It was not easy to move the entire statue, so the structure was split into 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates to be shipped to the US. These crates were stored and preserved on Bedloe’s Island until the construction of the pedestal was complete.
7. Building the Pedestal
Given its size, the Statue of Liberty had to be held on a strong base and therefore it was decided to build a pedestal. Richard Morris Hunt was looped in to work on the design of the pedestal. Originally, the pedestal was to reach a height of 114 feet, but due to financial constraints, the height was kept at 89 feet. The construction was expected to finish within 9 months but took slightly longer due to shortage of funds.
8. The Grand Opening
On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially inaugurated in the United States. Organized by the Franco-American Union and the New York City, the ceremony celebrated all the people who were involved in creating this glorious symbol of the state, the people of France and the United States.
Statue of Liberty | Main Architectural Elements Explained
The Head
The design on the Head of the Statue of Liberty was inspired by the Roman Goddess Libertas. This figure could be found in American coins, popular culture, and civic art. Representation of her was used symbolically back in the 19th century, and hence she was a great source of inspiration for Bartholdi.
The Crown
The Crown, otherwise known as a diadem is a headband worn by Lady Liberty as a symbol of liberty. The crown consists of 7 spikes, which stood for the 7 continents and 7 oceans as the idea of liberty is universal. There are 25 windows built on the crown which represents the gemstones found on the earth.
About the Statue of Liberty's Crown
The Torch
Bartholdi had an idea of building the flame on the torch with a solid copper sheet so that it would shine bright in daylight. But due to corrosion and leaks, this was replaced with a replica of Bartholdi’s design on a gold leaf-coated torch. The original torch is kept on display inside the Statue of Liberty Museum.
About the Torch
The Pedestal
The Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty is a building of its own, housing a museum within it. It has a lobby with exhibits on the first 2 floors and an observatory on the 10th floor. The original 1886 torch designed by Bartholdi is kept on display at the museum. To get to the top of the Pedestal 215 steps were built, which can now be accessed via elevators as well.
Exlpore the Pedestal of Lady Liberty
The Staircase
From the top of the Pedestal, you can see the 162 stairs that were built narrow and steep in dimension. The steps are 9 inches in height and 8 inches in length. The staircase on the crown of the Statue of Liberty is a spiral one with one section ascending and the other side descending, allowing a safer flow of visitor traffic.
The Statue of Liberty Today
Although the Statue of Liberty was initially built to celebrate the friendship between France and the United States, the meaning has evolved with time. Today, the Statue of Liberty is a universal symbol of freedom.
Given the Statue of Liberty’s impressive architectural elements and its powerful symbol, it was declared a UNESCO Cultural Site in 1984. Seeing over 3 million visitors every year, this iconic landmark is a must-visit when in New York.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Statue of Liberty's Construction & Architecture
When was the Statue of Liberty built?
The construction of the Statue of Liberty began in 1876 under Bartholdi’s direction. It took almost 10 years to build it and the construction went on until 1886.
Who designed the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, a famous French sculptor.
What inspired the design of the Statue of Liberty?
It is said that the inspiration for the design of the Statue of Liberty came from Libertas, who is the Roman goddess of freedom. However, it is said that Bartholdi was first inspired by the colossal figures that guarded Nubian tombs.
How tall is the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall, from the base to the torch. If you add the pedestal and the foundation, it stands 305 feet.
How long did the construction of the Statue of Liberty take?
It took roughly 10 years to build the Statue of Liberty in France, with the construction ending in 1885.
Why is the Statue of Liberty’s architecture famous?
The Statue of Liberty’s architecture has Lady Liberty standing with her torch, which is symbolic of freedom and democracy. The robed female figure bearing a torch symbolizes progress.
How much did the construction of the Statue of Liberty cost?
The Statue of Liberty cost approximately around $250,000 to build and was raised by creative fundraising efforts by France and America.
Where was the Statue of Liberty built?
The Statue of Liberty was constructed between 1881 and 1884 in Paris. Later, the construction of the pedestal was done in the United States.
What are the main architectural elements of the Statue of Liberty?
The main highlights of the Statue of Liberty are her Torch, Crown, and massive Pedestal.
What materials were used to build the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty was constructed with copper, and granite from Leete’s Island which was used for the outer wall.
Why was the Statue of Liberty built?
The Statue of Liberty was built as a symbol of friendship between the people of France and the United States, and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.
Is the Statue of Liberty a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, the Statue of Liberty was declared a UNESCO cultural site in 1984.
