The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, with President Grover Cleveland and many dignitaries in attendance. The graceful statue was a gift from the people of France, and the pedestal was financed by the people of the United States. The sculpture was taken apart and shipped from France to New York City in crates, arriving in the summer of 1885, where it awaited the construction of a pedestal and then reassembly.
Not just a tourist destination, I think many New York City-area children saw the statue on school trips. I sure remember being brought to the island with my classmates and walking up those steps inside the sculpture! And I remember Lee Iacocca's successful campaign to raise money for refurbishing the statue in advance of its big centennial in 1986.
I've blogged before about which of my ancestors would have passed Lady Liberty on their way from Eastern Europe to a new life in New York City and beyond. All four of my grandparents were immigrants, but one arrived via Canada and one arrived before the statue was dedicated. Two would most definitely have viewed the statue when they were arriving in the Big Apple and being processed at Ellis Island.
All the immigrants I remember were grateful to be able to start over in America and forge a new future for themselves and for their children. I salute their courage and appreciate how difficult it must have been to reinvent themselves in a new country. If they had not taken the bold step to start fresh, I would not be here today.
Happy 140th birthday to the State of Liberty.
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