The Statue of Liberty was built in France and shipped to the United States in pieces. It was completed and erected on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in 1886. The statue, which was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, was a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.

It was a gift from the French people to the United States. The statue was erected to commemorate the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. Liberty Island in New York Harbor is home to the Statue of Liberty. The statue is made of copper and stands 305 feet tall. The statue is dedicated to Liberty, the Roman goddess of liberty.

The Statue of Liberty represents liberty and democracy. It is a reminder that the United States is a nation of immigrants. The statue also represents hope and opportunity. For many people, the Statue of Liberty is the first thing they see when they come to the United States. The statue has been visited by millions of people from all over the world.

Why It was built - The early stages

In 1865, Edouard de Laboulaye, a French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist, proposed that a statue of liberty be built for the United States. This monument would commemorate the United States' centennial of independence as well as the country's friendship with France. Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor, supported de Laboulaye's idea and began designing the statue of 'Liberty Enlightening the World' in 1870.

In 1871, while designing the Statue, Bartholdi visited the United States. During the journey, Bartholdi chose Bedloe's Island as the location for the Statue. Despite its small size, the island was visible to every ship entering New York Harbor, which Bartholdi saw as the 'gateway to America.'

Under the direction of Bartholdi, French artisans and craftsmen began constructing the Statue in France in 1876. The arm holding the torch was finished in 1876 and displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. In 1878, the head and shoulders were finished and displayed at the Paris Universal Exposition. Between 1881 and 1884, the entire Statue was completed and assembled in Paris. Construction on the pedestal began in the United States in 1884 as well.

The Statue was disassembled and shipped to the United States aboard the French Navy ship Isère after being presented to Levi P Morton, the United States' minister to France, on July 4, 1884 in Paris. On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor to great acclaim. Unfortunately, the Statue's pedestal was not yet finished, and the entire structure was not reassembled on Bedloe's Island until 1886.