Recognized as the symbol of freedom throughout the world, the Statue of Liberty National Monument carries a unique definition and fascinating history. The statue, a gift from France, was conceived to be a part of an American centennial celebration. Funding, design and transportation problems delayed delivery until the summer of 1885. The statue's sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, employed the help of the famous structural designer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel in the design. Shipped in 350 pieces, the 111 foot tall statue arrived a year before the American-built base was complete.
   Once under the care of the U.S. Lighthouse Board in 1924, the copper clad statue perched on its star-shaped footprint, was declared a national monument. Jurisdiction was then passed on to the National Park Service, eventually taking in all of Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island in 1965. Then President Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to lead a 1980s restoration project. Declared as a United Nations Heritage Site, the 87 million dollar restoration project of Lady Liberty was completed in time for a spectacular celebration of American independence on July 4, 1986.

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