
The Statue of Liberty’s head on display in Paris 1878
I’m not sure quite what the story is behind these photos of the Statue of Liberty. It seems that various body parts went on a world tour before they were finally assembled an put into place in 1886. Does anyone know a little more about the history of this? Either way, the photos are fascinating. I particularly like the one of the hand being built…
[4 photos]

Building the Statue of Liberty’s face

Building the Statue of Liberty’s hand, 1883

The Statue of Liberty’s hand being displayed in Philadelphia 1876
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The Statue Of Liberty was built in Paris from 1875 till 1884 by the Ateliers Gauget-Gauthier.
The head was already exposed for a while in Paris in 1878 and became the most visited place in town.
The hand was temporarily sent to Philadelphia in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition.
In 1885 the whole statue was disassembled and the parts were transported by train to Rouen to be shipped via Le Havre to New York. It was assembled in four months and officially opened on October 28, 1886 by President Grover Cleveland.
A link that may add some information (it’s in French and if anyone wishes so, I could gladly translate it)
http://www.histoire-fr.com/dossier_statue_liberte.htm