When Was the Statue of Liberty Built?

The Statue of Liberty was constructed over an 11-year period, beginning in 1875 in France under the direction of French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineer Gustave Eiffel. The statue was built as a gift from France to the United States to celebrate America's centennial and commemorate the abolition of slavery. The internal structure and copper exterior were completed in France, then disassembled and shipped to New York.

The statue was reassembled on Liberty Island (then called Bedloe's Island) with the pedestal designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt. The dedication ceremony took place on October 28, 1886, presided over by President Grover Cleveland. The entire project, from conception to dedication, represents one of the most significant international collaborative efforts of the 19th century and has since become an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.