🎬 STATUE OF LIBERTY: From Paris Workshop to New York Harbor | Bro7

In 1885, one of America's most famous symbols still couldn't stand where it was meant to stand. A giant statue had crossed the Atlantic from France to New York, but it lay in hundreds of crates while its pedestal remained unfinished. How did a gift from France become one of America's most famous symbols? Yes, it has arrived. Careful with the crate. She's finally here. Welcome to New York. Imagine sailing into New York Harbor in the late 19th century. A giant woman appears above the water, raising a torch in her right hand and holding a tablet in her left. That is the Statue of Liberty, now one of the most famous symbols of the United States. But where did it begin? Who proposed it? And why was it built in New York Harbor? Let's return to the 19th century. Hey lovely folks, Bro Seven's here. Come on, let's get started. I have an idea worth sharing. We're listening. The connection between France and the United States is deeply rooted, and our nation's friendship is vital for the future. I agree, their shared ideals are crucial. According to historical records, Édouard de Laboulaye was a French scholar who knew the United States and its constitution well. He supported a French gift to America, a monument symbolizing freedom and celebrating the centennial of American independence and the friendship between the two nations. There is also a story that the idea emerged at a dinner party among French intellectuals. However, historical records do not confirm that gathering as the actual birth of the idea. So, we will distinguish documented history from later stories. Auguste Bartholdi took on the task of turning this idea into reality. In 1871, he visited the United States. As his boat passed New York Bay, he noticed Bedloe's Island, its location was ideal; ships entering the harbor would see the statue first; the island was later renamed Liberty Island. Framing history, gentlemen, the project required cooperation between two nations; France would make the statue while Americans would build the pedestal. In Paris, Bartholdi and his workers began shaping copper plates. In 1876, the torch-bearing arm was exhibited in Philadelphia to raise funds. Two years later, the head and shoulders were displayed in Paris. Piece by piece, the monument took shape. Have you ever wondered how big the Statue of Liberty really is? It stands 93 meters tall and weighs about 225 and nearly 30 tons of copper. The structure must withstand the wind, then we must give it a strong inner frame. But how could a statue dozens of meters tall withstand strong winds in New York Bay? In 1879, after the death of the first chief engineer, Bartholdi turned to Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel's engineering solution used an internal iron frame to support the statue's thin copper exterior, combining sculpture with advanced engineering. In the summer of 1884, the statue was completed in Paris. To transport it across the Atlantic, workers dismantled it into more than 300 pieces and packed them into hundreds of wooden crates aboard the French Navy ship Isère. On June 17, 1885, the ship arrived in New York to cheers from thousands of people and surrounding boats. But the pedestal on Bedloe's Island was still unfinished. The crates had to remain in storage. The symbol of freedom had crossed the Atlantic, but still could not stand. The delay was caused by a lack of funding on the American side. Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer launched a public fundraising campaign through the world, encouraging donations from ordinary people, including children and workers. The public response helped save the project. In 1886, the stone pedestal was finally completed, allowing the statue's assembly to begin. Workers raised the iron frame and joined the copper plates on Bedloe's Island. On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially unveiled in New York, amid ship horns and cheering crowds. But its story did not end there. In 1892, Ellis Island began receiving immigrants. Over the following decades, millions crossed the Atlantic to New York, and many saw the statue's torch as they approached the shore. And this is only the beginning of our journey to explore America. In the next episodes, Bro Seven will take you back in time to discover the events that shaped America today. Like and subscribe to join Bro Seven on this journey.