On this day in 1879 Auguste Bartholdi was granted the design patent for Liberty Enlightening the World, known now as the Statue of Liberty (USD 11,023). This iconic statue was created as a commemorative monument of the independence of the United States and arrived here on June 19, 1885 but not without some bumps in the road. One of the many obstacles faced was funding from both the French and Americans. There were many things done to raise money, lotteries, prized fights, even the literary works such as The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, which is the sonnet engraved outside the statue. All of this took a lot of time and effort but thankfully the money was eventually raised.
When the statue was on the way from France it was reduced to 350 pieces and packaged in 214 crates. It took four months to complete the construction of the statue and finally it was completed and dedicated on October 28, 1886 by President Grover Cleavland.
This statue is a historical treasure and for many it was the first thing our ancestors who immigrated to the United States saw. They saw the words engraved outside the statue and knew they were home.
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!””
