The Statue of Liberty is the most American of symbols, but it was actually a gift from France, as a celebration of friendship, democracy and 100 years of American independence. It was presented to the USA in a ceremony in 1884 and, before its unveiling, was shipped across the Atlantic in more than 200 crates.

This photograph from 1872 shows workers toiling away at Lady Liberty's giant hand, while the brains behind the sculpture, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, explains the process to a visitor from ground level.

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