The Statue of Liberty

On: October 28,1886

An emblem of Franco-American unity, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the American people by the French and unveiled this day in 1886. The Statue of Liberty at Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor is the work of French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. He called it Liberty Enlightening the World. Bartholdi was present at the dedication presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

Inscribed on a tablet inside the pedestal of 'Miss Liberty' is a poem by Emma Lazarus. It describes the statue of a woman holding a book and torch. The symbol of freedom, she waits for immigrants who must pass by her on their way to Ellis Island and admission to America. It reads:

The 152-foot high statue, weighing 225 tons, now sits on Liberty Island. On August 3, 1957, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name from Bedloe's Island to Liberty Island.

Liberty and justice for all!