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Statue of Liberty

Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a
sculpture with the year 1876 in mind for completion, to commemorate
the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The Statue was a joint
effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the
American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible
for the Statue and its assembly here in the United States.

However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France,
public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the methods used to
raise funds. In the United States, benefit theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize
fights assisted in providing needed funds.

Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer
to address structural issues associated with designing such as colossal copper sculpture.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to
design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the
Statue's copper skin to move independently yet stand upright.

Back in America, fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly, so Joseph Pulitzer
(noted for the Pulitzer Prize) opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper, "The World"
to support the fund raising effort. Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize both the rich
who had failed to finance the pedestal construction and the middle class who were content
to rely upon the wealthy to provide the funds. Pulitzer's campaign of harsh criticism was
successful in motivating the people of America to donate.
— National Park Service

   Richmond Railway Bridge

Towpath By a Canal

 

 

Church in San Jose, Costa Rica

 

 

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