[00:00.49]One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century by the people of France.
[00:13.62]The great statue, which was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete.
[00:23.98]The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by Eiffel.
[00:35.49]Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built.
[00:45.51]The site chosen was an island at the entrance of New York Harbour.
[00:51.20]By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall had been erected in Paris.
[01:00.72]The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America.
[01:06.72]By the end of October 1886, the statue had been put together again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi.
[01:18.75]Ever since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America.