The statue was put up a section at a time. The statue was not unveiled until it was complete. From start to finish, Mr. Bartholdi's project covered more than ten years of hard work. In 1871 the idea became fixed in his mind, but the project was not completed until 1886.
One fall day bear sunset in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled and displayed for all to see. During the celebration, ships from the harbor began firing cannons as flags flew from the roofs of buildings. Americans looked at the Statue Enlightening the World and remembered that many had given their lives that America might be a free land. A minister spoke words of praise for the kindness and concern of the French people toward our nation.
Since the year the statue was erected, few repairs have had to be made. In 1937 the spikes on the crown were removed and repaired with new iron frames. When the statue was first built, light came only from the crown. Later, pieces of the copper flame on he torch were gradually cut away, and very bright light bulbs (1000 watts each) were placed inside the torch. The torch gave light 2,500 times brighter than moonlight. Occasionally, engineers needed to climb the steep ladder inside the raised arm to replace one of the light bulbs. Between 1984 and 1986, French workmen built a new copper flame and covered it with a thin layer of gold. Spotlights were placed on the catwalk around the torch to shine on the flame.
There is a museum inside the pedestal of the statue. From the museum, visitors are allowed to climb the steep stairs leading to the crown. While standing on a balcony, they can look down on New York Harbor and New York City. The following is part of a poem, which is written on a stone on t he pedestals. The last five lines of the poem are the most famous and are memorized by thousands of students each year.
The New Colossus
. . . . 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;. . . . .
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!"
By Emma Lazarus
As crowds of people gathered for the unveiling of the great statue, a huge steamship loaded with immigrants passed. The tired, weary travelers must have wondered what the occasion was for all the excitement. Since that time, millions of immigrants have looked at the unveiled Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island with tears filling their eyes and joy flooding their hearts. Parents have lifted their small children so that they also might get sight of the great statue. This great symbol of America has brought hope to many weary travelers who have left their old homelands.
"Why," asked Europeans, "did God so long keep secret the presence of this new American continent?" There is no doubt that the American continent had been hidden by God and was then uncovered by Him at just the right time. It seemed that God had hidden his part of the earth in order to unveil it for the purpose of beginning a new and exciting history.
Since her discovery, America has offered many millions of exiles throughout the world a new beginning in life. The writer of the poem, which is written on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, calls America "Mother of Exiles." An exile is one who has been forced to leave his country.
How did so many people find out about the opportunities in this half of the world? Letters telling of work opportunities and newly found freedom poured back from America to Europe. During the 1680's, tracts written in English, French, and German were distributed in Europe. People head about the colony of Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, exiles were promised a home where they could live in peace and plenty and could help make their own laws. Best of all, they could worship as they wished.
Why did so many people, for over 300 years, follow the light of liberty across the ocean? A new homeland offered men freedom. America offered many people freedom from rule of harsh governments. To others, America meant freedom to worship God according to their beliefs. Still others came to America in search of opportunities to become prosperous. To all of these, America offered the freedom to put their minds and ideas to work.
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