Fundraising and community engagement have always been at the heart of the Statue of Liberty’s story. From its inception, financing this ambitious project required significant effort. France agreed to create the Statue and oversee its assembly in the United States, while the American people were tasked with funding and constructing the pedestal.
To gather funds in France, various methods were employed, including public subscriptions, diverse entertainment events, and even a lottery. In the U.S., the pedestal’s construction was financed through benefit theatrical performances, art exhibitions, auctions, and prizefights. It was for one such art and literary auction in 1883 that poet Emma Lazarus penned her renowned sonnet, The New Colossus.
Despite these varied fundraising initiatives, progress on the pedestal’s funding was slow. To galvanize public support, Joseph Pulitzer, in 1885, launched an appeal in his newspaper, the New York World. He invited readers to donate to the cause, promising to print every donor’s name in the paper. This resonated deeply with the public, and 120,000 individuals contributed over $100,000, successfully securing the remaining funds needed for the Statue’s pedestal.
Simultaneously in France, sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi recognized the need for engineering expertise to tackle the structural challenges of such a colossal copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, renowned for his later Eiffel Tower, was brought on board to design the essential iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework. This innovative framework was crucial, allowing the Statue’s copper skin to move independently while maintaining its upright stance – a vital consideration for its eventual journey and enduring stability.
Construction of the Statue in France reached completion in July 1884. The immense sculpture stood impressively against the Paris skyline, ready for its transatlantic voyage. In America, architect Richard Morris Hunt was chosen to design the Statue’s granite pedestal in the same year, and construction began, setting the stage for Lady Liberty’s arrival and installation.
