Statue of Liberty N A T I O N A L MONUMENT • • • • *********** BKDI.OES ISLAM), .NI'.W YORK This aerial view of New York Harbor shows Bedloe''s Island in the central foreground with the Statue of Liberty facing in the direction of incoming ships; Jersey shore docks in lower left corner; Ellis Island, which has been a gateway to the United States for millions Contents of people since 1900, at left center; the mouth of the Hudson or North River between Ellis Island and Manhattan in upper left; the East Page River to the right of Manhattan in upper center; Brooklyn in upper Statue of Liberty National Monument ... 3 right; Governors Island at upper right center; and the main ship channel between Bcdloe's and Governors Islands in the center Historical Background 3 Building the Pedestal 5 Auguste Bartholdi 5 Bcdloe's Island 6 THE COVER Lighting the Statue 7 Improvements to the Monument 8 Liberty's uplifted torch burns nightly as a symbol Statue of Liberty Visit 9 of the everlasting vigilance and love of human "The New Colossus" 15 nobility which alone can keep man free UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary I940 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE . NEWTON B. DRURY, Director U. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE lfi IG't.sS Statue of Liberty NATIONAL MONUMENT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT New World, it has greeted thousands of oppressed was established by Presidential proclamation in people of other lands who have reached these 1924 and placed under the jurisdiction of the War shores in hopeful search of greater freedom and Department, from which it was transferred in 1933 opportunity. to the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. In 1937 the boundaries were extended to include FIISTORICAL BACKGROUND the whole of Bcclloc's Island, approximately 12 ALMOST from the very beginning of the American acres in area, in the upper bay of New York Revolution, the French gave moral support to the Harbor. It is located about 1''/% miles from the rebelling colonists, supplied them with arms, finan­ Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan, from cial backing, and expert advice, and sheltered their which point transportation and mail service are privateers. In 1778, after the American victory at provided by boat. At the present time a privately- Saratoga, France entered into a formal alliance owned ferry line, operating under contract with with the independent States and openly aided the Government, runs to Bedloe's Island on an them by sending troops and a fleet that helped hourly schedule during the day. materially in American success at Yorktown. The outstanding feature of the monument is the These bonds of amity and sympathy between the world-renowned Statue of Liberty, a colossal figure two peoples remained firm, despite social and po­ by the Alsatian sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi, pre­ litical upheavals in France, and eventually served sented in 1884 by the people of France and erected in 1886 on a pedestal donated by the people of the United States. Upon the dedicatory tablet placed in the ped­ estal, the French donors expressed the significance of the statue: "A Gift from the People of the Re­ public of France to the People of the United States, this Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World Commemorates the Alliance of the Two Nations in Achieving the Independence of the United States of America and Attests their Abiding Friendship. Auguste Bartholdi, Sculptor. Inaugurated October 28th, 1886." It had been intended to present the statue in 1876, during the centennial celebration of Ameri­ can independence, but numerous delays postponed the actual dedication for 10 years. Although its original purpose was the commem­ oration of Franco-American relations during the period of the American Revolution and in subse­ quent years, the Statue of Liberty has come to have an additional meaning, one symbolic of the prin­ ciples upon which the United States Government was founded. Standing at the very portal of the "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to commem­ orate the wimiing of their independence As he entered New York Harbor Bartholdi was deeply impressed by the possibility of erecting there a colossal allegorical statue of the Goddess of Lib­ erty, released from her imprisoning chains and holding aloft her torch of enlightenment at the gateway to the New World. He made sketches of his conception and suggested that the statue be placed within the walls of Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island. Having received considerable encourage­ ment from prominent Americans, Bartholdi re­ turned to France with enthusiastic hopes. His proposal was warmly greeted by de Labou­ laye and his friends, and a committee was soon organized to obtain funds by popular subscription. In 1875, Bartholdi completed his original model, and the work of enlargement and reproduction in colossal form was begun under his supervision in the shops of Gaget-Gauthier Compagnie in Paris. The method adopted—a heroic kind of re­ pousse—called for the successive enlargement of 'flu: tablet of law bearing the date July -I, 1776, held in the left the final model. By means of a great number of hand of the Statue, commemorates the Declaration of Independence measurements, a model, approximately 10 feet in height, was formed. This in turn was used to pre­ pare a figure nearly 36 feet in height. The enlarged to aid in maintaining the friendship of the French model, finished in plaster, refined in its details and toward the principles of union during the War contours, was divided into sections which were between the States. again enlarged. Lath forms were constructed, over Outstanding among French interpreters of the which the plaster was molded to shape the various aims of the American Government during the war parts of the full-sized figure. From the plaster sec­ of 1861-65 was Edouard de Laboulaye, professor, tions wooden patterns were fitted to the enlarged publicist, and historian. In 1865 he proposed that mold. Heavy copper sheets were then pressed and the people of France participate in the centennial hammered to conform to the shape of the wooden celebration of the signing of the Declaration of patterns. Independence, not only as a gesture of Franco- When assembled, the statue consisted of a shell American unity but also to promote a favorable of copper three-thirty-seconds of an inch thick, in attitude of Americans toward France. sections held together by several types of joints, Although received with enthusiasm by de La- each section being reinforced by bands of iron boulaye's friends, the project was necessarily formed to the inside contour and in turn connected delayed by the Franco-Prussian War. The defeat to a central tower structure similar in design to a of the French army and the growing strength of modern oil derrick. This framework was designed Germany gave added incentive to de Laboulaye by the famous engineer, Gustave Eiffel, remem­ and his group to push their plan for building sup­ bered for the great tower in Paris which bears his port for France in the United States. At de Labou- name. laye's suggestion, Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor The construction of the statue made it compara­ whose native Alsace had just been lost to Germany tively light, although sufficiently strong and dur­ and whose patriotism was aroused, began to work able to withstand the elements, and rendered it on the idea of a sculptural monument to be pre­ possible to dismantle and transport it without dif­ sented to the United States. He sailed to America ficulty. to survey the scene, establish contacts, and return In 1876, the year in which it had been hoped to with recommendations for the realization of the present the finished statue, the completed right great project. arm and torch were exhibited at the Centennial 4 Exposition in Philadelphia and later at Madison Square Garden in New York City. To encourage the subscription of funds in France, the head and shoulders of the Goddess of Liberty when com­ pleted were placed on public exhibition in Paris, but the collection of the required funds was not accomplished until 1882. Bartholdi then completed the statue and presented it to the American Am­ bassador in Paris on July 4, 1884. There it stood until the spring of 1885, when it was dismantled and shipped to the United States. Arriving at Bedloe's Island more than 10 years after de Labou- laye had first suggested the project, it remained there a year before the pedestal, the American part of the endeavor, was completed. BUILDING THE PEDESTAL WHEN the French proposed the gift of the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States, it was agreed that the latter would provide funds for the construction of the supporting pedestal, and an A broken shackle, unseen and unknown to most visitors, is a part of, American committee was organized for that pur­ and lies at the feet of, the Statue of Liberty. It symbolizes the break­ pose. The response to the appeals of this committee ing of the bonds which fetter a people in the struggle for freedom was poor, especially when it became evident that the pedestal would cost at least twice as much as the committee had estimated. was resumed in May, and by August the drive was As early as 1877, while construction of the statue successfully concluded, assuring the erection of the itself was under way in Paris, the President had pedestal by spring. The reassembling and erection designated the parade ground inside Fort Wood as of the statue began in April and was carried for­ the site for the new statue.