Uncovered Sketches Expose Shocking Last-Minute Redesign of the Statue of Liberty
Akerberg/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesA crowd gathers around a model of the Statue of Liberty in Times Square.
Historians have long suspected that Eiffel’s initial designs had intended for a more sound foundation to support Lady Liberty’s raised arm. But the lack of material evidence representing the collaboration between Eiffel and Bartholdi meant that hypothesis could never be supported — until now.
However, historians still question how a last-minute change to such a massive construction project was able to bypass Eiffel’s approval.
One possibility is that Eiffel may have been too busy with his other projects at that stage of Lady Liberty’s construction and handed it over to his assistants to oversee the project’s completion.
“That may be one reason why Bartholdi decided he could make modifications, because he knew that Eiffel was not totally hands-on,” said Berenson. “Bartholdi played down Eiffel’s contributions because he was kind of an egotistical guy.”
After nearly a decade of construction and a grueling transatlantic journey between France and the United States and a two-year reassemblage, the Statue of Liberty was finally dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886. It still stands tall today.
Next, meet Emma Lazarus, the courageous Jewish poet behind the Statue of Liberty’s famous inscription, and take a look at 44 poignant photos of Ellis Island immigrants that convey the hope and hardships of coming to America.
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