One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was
presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century by the
people of France. The great statue, which was designed by the sculptor Auguste
Bartholdi, took ten years to complete. The actual figure was made of copper
supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by
Eiffel. Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be
found for it and a pedestal had to be built. The site chosen was an island at
the entrance of New York Harbour. By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall
had been erected in Paris. The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent
to America. By the end of October 1886, the statue had been put together again
and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi. Ever
since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions
of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in
America.&