Subject: So. Studies/Sciences: History

U.S. History Series

The Statue of Liberty: Building a Colossus

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"Highly Recommended! An exceptional achievement, this is simply the best documentary on the Statue of Liberty ever made. It illuminates the forgotten story of the Statue of Liberty like no other program before it." -Barry Moreno, Author (The Statue of Liberty Encyclopedia) and Historian, Statue of Liberty National Monument
"Highly Recommended! This program has excellent production values with good early views of the construction of the statue in Paris, and the reassembling of it in New York Harbor. The more recent renovation of the structure is especially fascinating. Few programs are more loaded with interesting facts that most Americans probably don't know." -EMRO Review
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." are the words inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, borrowed from the sonnet, The New Colossus, by nineteenth century American poet Emma Lazarus. Today, this magnificent landmark is one of the most well known symbols of political freedom and democracy in the world. And while most people know it is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, and was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, there's a lot more to the history and enduring story of this important monument. This highly acclaimed documentary tells that remarkable and little known true story. Some of the fascinating secrets discovered include: how the idea for constructing a giant statue and giving it to the U.S. can be traced to a single dinner party near Versailles, France, in April of 1865. That the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the guiding force behind the Statue, had never built anything taller than 12 feet high. That much of the money raised to build the Statute came via successful product licensing, using images of "Miss Liberty" to sell everything from life insurance to soap. That the Statue is made of thin sheets of copper, not much thicker than a penny; and that at the time of its construction, the 305 foot tall "Lady Liberty" was the tallest structure in the world. Produced in association with TLC, this is one colossal story every lover of liberty will want to see. Produced by Morningstar Entertainment, Inc. 07DR IJSCA 52 min.
Also See: New York