The History Of The Founding Of The Statue Of Liberty: US-France Friendship And The Hope For Lasting Democracy

Statue of Liberty (Anthony Delanoix / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Statue of Liberty is an effort between France and the United States (US) to commemorate the eternal friendship between the people of the two countries. The French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi created the statue himself. Meanwhile, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the man behind the founding of the famous Eiffel Tower, designed the steel frame of the statue.

The Statue of Liberty was later given to the United States (US) and erected on an American-designed pedestal on a small island now known as Liberty Island. During the ceremony, the erection of the statue was 'presented' by President Grover Cleveland in 1886.

Over the years, the statue has stood tall welcoming the millions of immigrants who arrived in the US via nearby Ellis Island. In 1986, the Statue of Liberty also underwent extensive renovations to honor the hundred years of the statue's existence. Today, the Statue of Liberty remains an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, as well as one of the most famous landmarks in the world.

Launching History, Wednesday, June 17, as the American Civil War was drawing to a close, French historian Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that France make a statue to give to the US. This is to celebrate the success of the US nation in building a sustainable democracy.

The sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, known for his large-scale sculpting, had the mandate to design the statue just before the centenary of the US Declaration of Independence. This project is a joint effort between the two countries; France is responsible for the sculpture and assembly.

Meanwhile, the US built the plinth on which the statue will stand. The statue automatically becomes a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

In the pace of the times

Due to the need for funds for the statue, work on the statue did not begin until 1875. In France, public fees, withdrawal of funds from various entertainment, and lotteries are some of the methods used to raise funds.

Meanwhile, in the US, they take advantage of theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions, and gift giving for those interested in providing the funds needed. The poet Emma Lazarus wrote the famous sonnet The New Colossus in 1883 for an arts and literary auction to raise funds for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty also has another name, namely 'Liberty Enlightening the World' or in French 'La Liberté éclairant le monde'. The statue depicts a woman holding a torch in her raised right hand and a tabula ansata on her left inscribed with 'July 4, 1776' which marks the date of the US Declaration of Independence. The face of the Statue of Liberty is inspired by the face of the sculptor's mother, Bartholdi.

To create the framework in which the "skin" of the statue will be assembled, Bartholdi enlisted the help of Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower. Together with Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, Eiffel built the framework of the Statue of Liberty from iron and steel pillars.

In 1885, Bartholdi finished the statue, then it was disassembled, packed in more than two hundred cases and shipped to New York. For four months, workers in the US put the statue back on and put it on a pedestal. The Statue of Liberty reaches 93 meters, including the base. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland formally dedicated the Statue of Liberty to the thousands who attended.

In the early 20th century, the oxidation of the Liberty Statue's copper skin due to exposure to rain, wind and sun gave the statue its distinctive green color, known as verdigris. In 1984, the statue was closed to the public and underwent a major restoration. Even when restoration began, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. On July 5, 1986, the Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public in celebration of the centenary of the Statue of Liberty.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Liberty Island was closed for 100 days; The Statue of Liberty itself did not open until August 2004. In July 2009, the statue's crown was reopened to the public, although visitors must make reservations to ascend to the Statue of Liberty crown.