Liberty

1883

1. 01

   Spring 1883

   Before

   Bedloe's Island: an old star-shaped fort at the mouth of New York Harbor.

2. 02

   1883

   Foundations

   Ground is broken on 18 April. A mountain of concrete rises inside the fort.

3. 03

   17 June 1885

   The Isère

   350 pieces of copper and iron arrive from France in 214 crates.

4. 04

   Spring 1886

   Eiffel's skeleton

   The pedestal is finished. An iron pylon rises: the hidden spine of the statue.

5. 05

   Autumn 1886

   The copper skin

   No scaffolding: workers hang from ropes to rivet her skin.

6. 06

   28 October 1886

   Inauguration

   Fog, 300 ships, cannon salutes. Liberty is unveiled.

7. 07

   1886–1920

   Turning green

   Her copper darkens, then slowly turns green.

8. 08

   2026

   Today

   140 years old. Still lighting the way in.

9. 09

   Tonight

   Liberty Enlightening the World

   Flags up. Lights on.