In the 1700s, the French helped the Americans fight for freedom. On July 4, 1776, the American colonist issued the Declaration of Independence.
Edouard de Laboulaye, a well known French teacher and author of several books about the United States in 1865 proposed some kind of a monument to be built as a tribute to the US during a dinner party at his house. He wanted to give the United States a great value in honor of its independence and liberty.
The famous sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartoldi was very enthusiastic about this idea. Bartoldi was famous for creating large sculptures.
Bartoldi thought that the perfect place for statue would be on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor.
Bedloe’s Island had an old fort called Fort Wood. Fort Wood’s walls line up to form a star. Bartoldi wanted the statue to stand inside the star shaped fort.
Workers began building the statue in Paris, France in 1875. In 1884, Frederic Auguste Bartoldi finished the Statue of liberty in Paris, France.
The statue was put together in New York Harbor in 1886.
History of Statue of Liberty
