On This Day The Statue Of Liberty Arrived In New York

On July 17, 1885 the Statue of Liberty arrived at the New York harbor in 350 individual pieces. A year later the copper and iron statue was reassembled and and dedicated by President Grover Cleavland. The statue later become known as a symbol of freedom and democracy.

The statue was sculpted by French artist Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. He modeled the Statue after his mother. He had assistance from another artist by the name of Gustave Eiffel. Gustave Eiffle later went on to develop the Eiffle Tower in Paris.

The Statue Of Liberty was scheduled to be finished in time for the 100th anniversary of America's Decleration of Independence but money issues caused the date to be pushed back from 1876 until 1885. The statue cost the French an estimated $250,000 which is equivelent to around $5.5 million dollars today.

The statue weighs in at 450,000 pounds, and stands more than 305 feet from the foundation of its pedestal to the tip of the torch. When the statue was originally erected it was copper colored, but over the years the weather changed it to the greenish color it is today.

About seven years after the statue had been in place Ellis Island opened as Americas cheif immigration station. The statue was a symbol of freedom for the millions of immagrants who sailed into the harbor.

After the attacks of 9/11 the statue was closed to the public and did not re-open untill 2004. Some parts still remain un-open to the public.

I am proud to call the United States of America my home. I am grateful to all those that have served to give me so many opportunities. God Bless The USA!!