Frederick bartheld the sculptor came up with the concept of a mighty woman with a torch as he sailed into the harbor
of New York City in the late 19th century. Inspired by the ideals of liberty and freedom, Bartholdi envisioned a statue that would serve as a symbol of the United States' welcoming spirit towards immigrants and its commitment to democracy.
Bartholdi's concept focused on a colossal female figure holding a torch high in her right hand, symbolizing enlightenment. The statue would be called Liberty Enlightening the World and become one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, later known as the Statue of Liberty.
After Bartholdi returned to France, he enlisted the help of engineer Gustave Eiffel to design the statue's internal structure. The construction of the statue commenced in France in 1875, and it took several years to complete. The statue was then disassembled and shipped to the United States in more than 200 crates.
Once in New York City, the statue was reassembled on Bedloe's Island (now known as Liberty Island) with the assistance of architect Richard Morris Hunt. The pedestal on which the statue stands was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt.
On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated in a grand ceremony attended by thousands of people. Since then, it has welcomed countless immigrants arriving in the United States and has come to represent the values of liberty, democracy, and hope.
Frederick Bartholdi's concept of a mighty woman with a torch serves as a powerful symbol of freedom, making the Statue of Liberty an enduring icon of American history and ideals.