Quiz:
～Statue of Liberty History～
The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated her 100th birthday on
October 28, 1986. The people of France
gave the Statue to the people of the United States over one hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship
established during the American Revolution. Over the years, the Statue of Liberty has grown
to include freedom and democracy as well as this international friendship.
Sculptor Frederic Auguste
Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture with the year 1876 in mind for
completion, to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. ①The
Statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon
that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were
responsible for the Statue and its assembly here in the United States. However,
lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France,
public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the
methods used to raise funds. In the United States, benefit theatrical events,
art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights assisted in providing needed funds.
Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address
structural issues associated with designing such as colossal copper sculpture.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned
to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows
the Statue's copper skin to move independently yet stand upright. Back in America,
fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly, so Joseph Pulitzer
(noted for the Pulitzer Prize) opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper,
"The World" to support the fund raising effort. Pulitzer used his
newspaper to criticize both the rich who had failed to finance the pedestal
construction and the middle class who were content to rely upon the wealthy to
provide the funds. Pulitzer's campaign of harsh criticism was successful in
motivating the people of America
to donate
Financing for the pedestal
was completed in August 1885, and pedestal construction was finished in April
of 1886. The Statue was completed in France in July, 1884 and arrived in New
York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which
transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States.②In
transit, the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214
crates. The Statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal in four months time.
On October
28th 1886, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place
in front of thousands of spectators. She was a centennial gift ten years late.
<Words>
commemorate 祝う、記念する centennial 100周年の、100年
to commemorate the centennial of the American
Declaration of Independence.
アメリカ独立宣言100周年を祝うために
Statue （人・動物などをかたどった）像
pedestal 台座、台
be responsible for 責任がある
assembly 集まり、集合
（↑assemble 自V①集まる、会合する、結集する 自V②組み立てられる）
prize fights プロボクシング試合
public fees, 公共料金 lottery 宝くじ
sculpture 彫刻 （colossal copper sculpture 巨大な銅像）
frigate ① 小型快速船｛こがた かいそく せん｝
② フリゲート艦◆18世紀末から19世紀初頭の木造の海軍快速帆船
in
transit 移動中
＜How to access＞
Ferry Ticket Prices - Adult: $10.00, Senior (62
and over): $8.00, Child (4-12): $4.00, Under 4:Free.
http://www.nps.gov/stli/mainmenu.htm
http://www.statueofliberty.net/index.html
http://www.nylovesyou.com/trivia.htm
Statue of Liberty 感想
Created by
Yujin Tsumuraya.