The freedom that illuminates the world reached the new York 140 years ago

On June 17, 1885, a French frigate arrived in New York, taking 350 pieces on board in 214 boxes. Once mounted, this gigantic puzzle shape one of the best known monuments in the world: the statue of freedom.

The iconic statue of freedom, whose official name is The freedom that illuminates the worldarrived in New York 140 years ago, on June 17, 1885.

It came in 214 crates, and went a long way to become an icon of the city, a US brand image, and a symbol of Freedom, democracy and hope all over the world.

The colossal copper statue, which was initially brown but over the years oxidized and gained its characteristic green color, was designed by the French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (which was inspired by the mother to draw the face) with the collaboration of Eugène-emmanuel Viollet-Le-Duc and Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel.

The participation of the French engineer, famous for the Tower in Paris, which gave the name, was an essential factor in the success of the project. Eiffel was responsible for building the Iron interior skeleton complexwhich supports the thin copper leaves that shape the statue – and that allows it resist the strong winds that sometimes reach it.

The imposing statue was offered to the Americans for France to celebrate the Centenary of US Independence. In the left hand, the woman has a board with the date of July 4, 1776in Roman numbering – the day the United States adopted its declaration of independence.

The figure of the woman represents the Roman goddess of freedom, freed. The seven tips of the crown represent the seven continents and the seven seas, but several Masonic symbols are attributed to him. At your feet, a current departure recalls the Abolition of slaverynot finally Civil War two United States.

Before all the pieces arrive in New York to be assembled, it was shown by the world: The torch was shown in Philadelphia at the World Fair From 1876, to raise funding to create the head with the seven -pointed crown – which, once built, was exhibited at the universal exhibition of Paris in 1878.

Once completed its construction, the statue was dismantled in 350 pieces and packed in 214 crates, having boarded to the United States on May 18, 1885. The trip was complicated: It took another 7 days than expected, and Fragata Isere, which carried it, almost sank.

After 27 days of travel, most famous US emigrant finally arrived at the port of New York.

The statue was offered by the French, but It was up to the Americans construct huge pedestal where it would be installed. It was not easy to raise the funds needed to finance the project.

Initially, the then president Ulysses S. Grant tried to justify the government’s attribution of financing by giving the statue a purpose of public utility, making your torch a lighthouse. But the statue’s electrification project proved unfeasible, and New York was close to losing the opportunity to have its iconic statue.

Without public funds to finance the pedestal, it was the politician and editor of newspapers Joseph Pulitzer (which created the important prize of homonymous journalism) to launch The New York World one Funds Raising Campaign with the citizens from all over the country, to get the necessary money.

More than 160,000 donors, including children, entrepreneursstreets of streets and politicians, made their contribution to the construction of the pedestal. Although more than 75% of donations did not have dollar (which would currently correspond to about 28 euros), the campaign was a success.

Raised the financing, the statue was then built on the island of Bedloe, which in the meantime was named after Freedom Island.

In all, the monument measures 92,99 metrosof which 46.5 are the figure of the woman to wield the torch. It is a little higher than the Cleric Tower in Porto, and when it was built it was the largest iron statue in the world.

The Statue of Freedom has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and was considered one of the seven wonders of the world in 2007. The monument was inaugurated on October 28, 1886, by the then US president Stephen Grover Cleveland.

In his speech during the inauguration ceremony, Cleveland stated that “a current of light will cross the darkness of ignorance and oppression of the man – Until freedom illuminates the world“.