Statue of Liberty marks 140th anniversary of unveiling

The Statue of Liberty, officially titled ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’, celebrated its 140th anniversary of unveiling on October 28. The monument was inaugurated in New York Harbor in 1886 by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and featuring an internal metal framework by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from the people of France to the United States to commemorate American independence and the shared democratic values of both nations. The structure was constructed in Paris and shipped to New York in 214 crates.

Originally composed of copper sheets, the statue possessed a reddish-brown hue. Over time, exposure to the elements caused the metal to oxidize, resulting in the iconic green patina that has defined the landmark since the early 1900s. The monument remains a global symbol of freedom, democracy, and the history of immigration to the United States.