How many statues of liberty are there in Paris? Yes, yes, I know. The Statue of Liberty is in New York, right? While it is true that the most famous version is found in New York Harbour, there are actually replicas of the Statue of Liberty all over the world. In fact, several of them can be found in Paris. So how did this happen?
It all began when the Americans declared their independence from Britain in 1776. France was one of the United States’ closest allies during the resulting War of Independence, sending aid in the form of money, materials, and military advisors. In 1886, to mark the centennial of America’s independence, France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States to celebrate the bond between the two countries. In 1889, the US returned the favour and gifted France a Statue of Liberty in return to mark the centennial of the French Revolution. It was inaugurated on July 4th, 1889, a symbolic date meant to represent the history of both countries.
Since then, several more replicas of the Statue of Liberty have been installed all over Paris in museums and parks, including the Musée d’Orsay and the Luxembourg Gardens. However, the one from 1889 can be found on the west side of the city, standing guard over the river Seine. Interestingly enough, it stands in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, which is named after Gustave Eiffel. In addition to this world famous landmark, Gustave Eiffel also constructed the first Statue of Liberty that now sits in New York City.
FIND ME HINT
The original Statue of Liberty in Paris can be found on the Pont de Grenelle, facing the west. Combine it with a trip to the nearby Eiffel Tower to make it a Gustave Eiffel Day. However, there’s five statues of liberty to be found in Paris altogether, so happy hunting!
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Laura Moore is a professional storyteller who loves history and the many stories that make Paris one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Join one of her signature tours to learn the story of a city.