THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

he Statue of Liberty has long been a symbol of freedom and hope. Its official title is , named by its sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Also called Lady Liberty, the historic landmark was created to commemorate the centenary of the Declaration of Independence, along with America’s close relationship with France, who gifted the statue in the late 1800s. The initial concept came from the French poet, author and activist Édouard René de Laboulaye. It’s often reported that Laboulaye came up with the idea at a dinner party in 1865 following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, but studies have found this to be false. Evidence suggests that Laboulaye conceptualised the statue between 1870 and 1871. The statue’s creation also recognised the