October 28th, 2011 marks the 125th anniversary of the official ‘opening’ of America’s most famous statuesque Lady. i-D online’s on hand to lend a quick recap of her historical importance!
They might have delicious croissants and be susceptible to heavy stereotyping, but The French gave the Statue of Liberty to America as a gift to commemorate the alliance they shared during the American Revolution. C’est la vie! French sculptor, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, designed Lady Liberty and Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (oui oui, of the Eiffel Tower) even had a hand in its steel framework. So, basically one of the most iconic American monuments was assembled in France in 19th century – was this the birth of outsourcing? The combination of Ellis Island opening and Emma Lazarus’s poem being inscribed literally cemented the statue’s place in the American culture. Happy 125th old girl!
From tomorrow (29th October) Madame Liberty will close down for a year for a quick sprucing up
Text: Lily Avnet
Photography courtesy of i-Daydream
