The Statue of Liberty officially celebrated her 100th birthday on 28 October 1986. The people of France gave the statue to the people of the United States over 100 years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Over the years, the Statue of Liberty has grown to include freedom and democracy as well as this international friendship.

Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (right) was commissioned to design a sculpture with the year 1876 in mind for completion, to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the statue and its assembly in the United States. However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the methods used to raise funds. In the United States, theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights assisted in providing needed funds. Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address structural issues associated with designing such a colossal copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the Statue’s copper skin to move independently yet stand upright.

The statue was completed in France in July 1884 and arrived in New York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate Isere, which transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. In transit, the statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates. The statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal in four months. On 28 October 1886, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators. She was a centennial gift 10 years late.

On 11 May 1965, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to start restoration work on the Statue of Liberty. In 1984, at the start of the

statue’s restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site.

If you have ever visited the Statue of Liberty in person, you already know she’s an imposing figure, but consider the following facts:

• The statue, 46m 2.5cm tall, was the tallest structure in the US at that time.

• The face on the Statue of Liberty measures more than 2.4m.

• There are 154 steps from the pedestal to the head of the Statue of Liberty.

• The statue has a 10.67m waistline.

• There are seven rays on her crown, one for each of the seven continents.

• During the restoration completed in 1986, the new torch was carefully covered with thin sheets of 24k gold

• The arm holding the torch measures 14m; the index finger 2.4m and the nose nearly 1.5m.

• The statue is covered in 300 sheets of coin-thin copper. They were hammered into different shapes and riveted together.

• The statue sways 7.62cm in the wind; the torch sways 12.7cm.