
Those are the words that introduced my imaginary friend Liberty Belle to Buffalo Bill's Wild West and her chance to ride in the parade the day the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York. The dedication included a parade, fireworks (which had to be postponed) and a speech by President Grover Cleveland.
Lady Liberty was the brainchild of French sculptor, Frederic August Bartholdi, who was inspired by an 1865 after-dinner conversation with another Frenchman who was a supporter of the Union during the American Civil War. That conversation introduced the idea that perhaps a joint project (between France and the United States) would inspire the French to champion democracy over the repressive regime of Napoleon III.


Fundraising was difficult and by 1885 work on the pedestal was threatened due to lack of funds. Joseph Pulitzer began a drive for donations and almost 120,000 responded ... with less than a dollar each. At last, Lady Liberty arrived ... in pieces. She was dedicated in 1886 and remains one of our most beloved landmarks.
Have you visited Liberty Enlightening the World?
What's your favorite U.S. landmark?
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I've never seen the Statue of Liberty, but I've heard it's an awesome sight. I don't really have a favorite monument, but the one that touched me most was the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. As I walked along beside, it seemed as though the eyes of the soldiers were following me to the place where I sat down just to look at. The facial expressions are so real, and because I knew a young man killed in that war, my heart cried for all those who didn't come home. They were just statues, but they represented real men who sacrificed their lives. As a writer, I really let my imagination soar. I'll never forget it.
ReplyDeleteI remember a similar experience when visiting the Vietnam memorial, Martha. All those beautiful boys ...
DeletePS: I love the cover of your book. I'll have to get it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha!
DeleteI've never seen Lady Liberty. I learned a lot about her recently when I wrote and article geared towards kids about her, Uncle Sam and Betsy Ross for a regional magazine. I've always wanted to see Mount Rushmore.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Lady Liberty either, but how I'd love to. Your article sounds like a good read! This past year I read a biography of Betsy Ross and I learned a lot about early life in America. Mount Rushmore is within a reasonable drive of my Nebraska home, and after my first husband died, I took my youngest son on a trip to Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Unforgettable. I hope you get to see it someday!
DeleteThis is one of the places I hope to see before I die. I had to learn "Give me your tired, your poor" in eighth grade and I still get goosebumps! I think The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington Cemetery are the two places that have left their marks on my memory. Thanks for a great post!
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