Laura McCormick stands beside a model of the Statue of Liberty during a visit to the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, where the exhibition Lady Liberty: Sweat, Audacity, Genius explores the design, construction, and history of the monument.
By Laura McCormick
Who can forget the French Air Force jets in their dramatic flyover of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River, or the Lady Liberty light show on July 4th? They were among several magnificent tributes from the French government to honor our 250th anniversary and enduring transatlantic bond.
Celebrations of the Franco-American alliance continue with the recent openings of two Paris exhibitions timed to the 250th anniversary: “Auguste Bartholdi: Liberty Enlightening the World” at the storied Musée d’Orsay and “Lady Liberty: Sweat, Audacity, Genius” at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, a world-renowned technical and industrial museum.
The exhibits shed light on our worldwide symbol of freedom’s often-overlooked French connection—a history that curators have imbued with surprises about the extraordinary genius of the people who imagined and built her. I was honored to tour the exhibitions with a delegation from an organization with a history of collaboration with the French in supporting the Statue of Liberty.
In our era of social media and quick sound bites, it was exhilarating to be immersed in the complete history of this masterpiece of French ingenuity, which was initially intended as a gift for the centenary of American independence.
Historic Franco-American Collaboration
The monument was first suggested in 1865 by French politician Édouard Laboulaye, who admired America’s model of democracy during the tumultuous reign of Napoleon III. The project appealed to the hugely ambitious and talented French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi was looking for an opportunity to revisit an earlier, similar plan of his—a giant lighthouse featuring a woman bearing a torch to be placed at the entry to the Suez Canal—which had been deemed too expensive.
With Napoleon III deposed, Bartholdi began working in earnest in the early 1870s. He collaborated with the Paris workshop of Gaget, Gauthier & Co. on the extraordinary undertaking that was as much a gift from France as a political statement to celebrate the struggle against oppression. Gustave Eiffel provided the ingenious metal framework that enabled the statue to support its own weight, pushing the technical boundaries of the era.
During construction, the statue was heavily promoted in America to build awareness and excitement long before it was shipped from France. Aggressive fundraising was needed to build the pedestal on Bedloe’s Island. Joseph Pulitzer was instrumental in raising these funds, appealing to the civic pride of everyday Americans through his network of newspapers.
The museums showcase dramatic, behind-the-scenes accounts of the steps that made Bartholdi’s dream possible: the sources of inspiration, the technical, political, and financial obstacles, and its shipment and assembly on Bedloe’s Island. The project ultimately resulting in Liberty Enlightening the World, the statue’s original name, becoming an iconic global symbol for freedom.
Richly immersive virtual reality and 3D reconstruction techniques, coupled with life-size video projections and sets, transport visitors in real time to experience the construction of the colossal monument. The ringing of hammers in the bustling workshop, the disassembly, and the packing of the statue for its voyage across the Atlantic are extremely effective in showcasing the enormous human effort required to bring the copper and iron giant to life. The virtual reality ascent to the top of the crown was an exhilarating and dizzying ride, giving me a new appreciation for the monumental genius behind its creation.
Pbs To Showcase Lady Liberty
It is not necessary to visit Paris to appreciate the essence of the exhibitions. PBS WNET Thirteen premieres Secrets of the Dead: Raising Lady Liberty on Wednesday, October 21 at 10 p.m., featuring contributions from Musée d’Orsay curators. For those traveling to Paris, the Musée d’Orsay exhibit runs through January 31, 2027, and the Musée des Arts et Métiers’ exhibition continues through August 1, 2027.
Vive la France!