-
Idea of Monument Proposed
Chairman Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed the idea of a monument for the United States. -
Period: to
Monument Timespan
-
Monument to be a Statue of a Woman
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi proposed the idea of a robed woman holding a torch to be the monument. The idea was unsuccessful. -
Beginning of the Liberty Monument
Bartholdi began sketching figures for the Liberty monument. -
Promotion of the Idea
Bartholdi, along with Laboulaye, came to America to promote their idea of the Liberty monument on Bedloe's Island in New York. -
Return to France
After promoting his idea of the statue, Bartholdi returned to France. -
Approval
A committee approved Bartholdi's idea of, "Liberty Enlightening the World." Fundraising for 600,000 francs begins. Laboulaye presents formal request to President Ulysses S. Grant to use Bedloe's Island for the placement of the statue. -
First Pieces of Monument in New York
Bartholdi returned to the United States. The hand and torch were shipped to New York and put on display at Madison Square. -
Construction Begins
Bartholdi begins constructing the monument. The hand and torch were sent to the United States for display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. -
Official Site is in Place
President U.S. Grant signed a bill designanting that Bedloe's Island would be the site for the statue. -
Construction Continues
The head and shoulders are completed and put on display for the first time at Paris Universal Exposition. -
Establishment of Framework
Alexander Gustav Eiffel designs 98-foot, 120 ton inner framework to support the statue. French fundraising is completed. United States fundraising continues. -
Pedestal Begins
Construction continues in Paris. The design of the pedestal begins on Bedloe's Island designed by R.M. Hunt. -
Completion of Statue
Statue is completed. United States takes ownership. -
Arrival in the U.S.
The statue is disassembled and shipped to the United States. -
Completion of the Pedestal
The pedestal is completed. The decision was made to light the torch electrically. The Statue of Liberty was assembled on Bedloe's Island. -
Addition to the Statue
Word from Emma Lazarus' poem, "The New Colossus" are added to the base of the statue.
