Origins of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most enduring symbols of the United States. In 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and certainly all eyes will be on Lady Liberty. To gear up for these celebrations, lets learn about the origins of the Statue of Liberty!
Who Gave Us the Statue of Liberty?
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France. It’s important to note that it was the people, not the government of France that gave America the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty was the brainchild of a man named Eduoard de Laboulaye. Laboulaye was a writer, himself, and a contemporary of Victor Hugo. Both were living under Napoleon III, and the living conditions and public sentiments of this regime are summed up in one of President Donald Trump’s favorite musical Les Miserables, based of course, on the Victor Hugo novel. Songs such as “Do You Hear the People Sing” depict the public rebelling against Napoleon III. Needless to say, Napoleon III was not a man of the people, and Laboulaye looked at America and thought, “We French could learn a thing or two about democracy from those Americans across the ocean. Sure they just had a Civil War, and sure their president was just assassinated, and sure they only abolished slavery this year, but they do have a democracy! They have the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence coming up. Let’s give them a gift.”
Who Made the Statue of Liberty
Laboulaye had the idea to give the United States of America a gift for the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but he didn’t know what to give. He threw an epic dinner party where he invited his friends and colleagues, many of whom were artists. At this part was Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor who loved the giant Egyptian antiquities. He kept designing giant statues for different cities, but the cities kept declining the gift. When Laboulaye asked what France should give the USA, Bartholdi saw his opportunity. He proposed gifting them with a giant. Laboulaye loved that idea, and Bartholdi got the job.
Bartholdi embarked on a journey to learn more about America, and came up with the idea of a statue dedicated to liberty. America was immense and diverse, yet everything was joined by this idea of liberty. He looked towards his beloved antiquities and decided upon the goddess Libertas. Thus, the Statue of Liberty was born.
Who is the Statue of Liberty Modeled After
A favorite topic of discussion is who was the model for the Statue of Liberty’s face. There are many theories, some more far-fetched than others. The most accepted theory is that the model for the Statue of Liberty’s face was Bartholdi’s mother. Bartholdi himself denied this claim, but if you find a picture of his mother, it’s hard to deny a resemblance. Whether he did so consciously or not, it’s probably safe to say that Bartholdi’s mother has an impact.
Some believe the Statue of Liberty’s face was modeled after Bartholdi’s brother. Others say his mistress. Some say a Middle Eastern or Egyptian woman. Others say an enslaved African woman. Bartholdi himself never said, and it’s quite possible all of these different influences in Bartholdi’s life influenced the face. One of the most beautiful things about the Statue of Liberty’s face is that she is a giant green lady. It doesn’t matter who the model was. Every single human that looks at her face can see themselves in it, and be inspired by liberty.
If you visit the Statue of Liberty, make sure to take lots of photos and share them on our giant Times Square billboard.