10 fun facts about the Statue of Liberty
An iconic landmark, every year the Statue of Liberty draws approximately 3.5 million visitors. Countless more stand in Battery Park, Liberty Park and other places to gaze upon her. While Lady Liberty is instantaneously recognizable, how much do you know about the statue itself? 10 Fun Facts About the Statue of Liberty 1. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States. It was given on America’s birthday, July 4 in the year 1884. The idea for this gift was born in Paris in 1865. According to National Geographic, a “group of Frenchmen were discussing their dictator-like emperor” and that of the U.S. democratic government. Eventually, this idea was brought to realization as French supporters raised money (no contributions from the government) to build it and contributors in the United States paid for the pedestal on which the statue would stand. Sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi imagined a female statue holding a torch to represent the l...