The Statue of Liberty was almost a lighthouse for the Suez Canal in Egypt.
In short: Before she became the iconic beacon of New York Harbor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi envisioned a colossal, torch-bearing woman for the entrance of the Suez Canal. When that proposal was rejected, the French sculptor pivoted, eventually gifting the world the copper giant we know today as Liberty Enlightening the World.
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, born in 1834, was a French sculptor whose fascination with monumental art was ignited by travels to Egypt and Yemen in the 1850s. By 1869, he proposed a massive lighthouse for the Suez Canal titled Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia. The project was rejected by Khedive Isma'il Pasha and Ferdinand de Lesseps due to its prohibitive costs, leading Bartholdi to seek other outlets for his colossal ambitions.
The concept for the Statue of Liberty emerged in 1865 during a dinner party with historian Édouard de Laboulaye. They aimed to celebrate the American Centennial of 1876 with a gift from France. Bartholdi visited the United States in 1871, personally selecting Bedloe's Island as the site. Despite initial indifference from American officials like President Grant, Bartholdi persisted, refining his designs and securing funding through a French lottery that raised $400,000.
Construction began in 1875, utilizing a revolutionary structural approach. Bartholdi collaborated with Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who designed the internal steel framework, while Bartholdi’s team hammered 300 sheets of copper into shape by hand. The completed statue, standing 151 feet high and weighing 225 tons, was disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic. It was finally dedicated on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland, becoming a permanent symbol of freedom.
The statue's identity evolved significantly over time. Originally administered by the U.S. Lighthouse Board because its torch served as a navigational aid, it was later transferred to the War Department and eventually the National Park Service. The famous Emma Lazarus poem, "The New Colossus," was not inscribed on the pedestal until 1903, long after the statue's dedication, cementing its role as a welcoming symbol for immigrants.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi | Biography, Art, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi | Lemelson
- Also: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-fr-d-ric-auguste-bartholdi.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Visual artists · More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
