Farra 1

Hanna Farra
Ms. Levesque
Communications
25 October 2016
Liberty Enlightening The World
The year is 1876. I find myself in a large, dusty warehouse in Paris. The out-ofplace, elegant crimson drapes have been pulled back, letting the soft, early-morning light
spill in. As I turn around, my attention settles on a small, French-looking man gazing up
at the biggest structure I have ever seen. As I move closer, I realize that this is not just a
structure, it is a head.
The magnificent head is huge, the womans hair spills over her shoulders, and a
large, pointy crown frames her detailed face. Sizable iron bars create an outline, shaping
it to perfection. The French man admiring the head is Gustave Eiffel. He stands in front
of the womans pursed lips, which appear big enough to swallow him whole in one swift
motion. Thin lines etched into Eiffels face show relentless concentration as his gaze rests
unmoving on the structure as if sizing-up a competitor. It is satisfying, Mr. Eiffel
says, turning to scribble something in his small, brown notebook, He should be here
soon. Soon after, the black door on the side of the room opens with a squeak.
It is gorgeous! Is it finished? the man inquires exuberantly. He is a tall, slim
man. His huge, curly mustache completes a very French looking ensemble.
Hello, Bartholdi, Eiffel answers, without a glance in his direction, Not yet, but
it is close. I just finalized the layout for the framework. You designed a beautiful statue!
As Bartholdi indulges in a long pause to gaze at the finished framework alongside Eiffel,

Farra 2
I continue my exploration of the warehouse. Turning, I see another structure across the
way. It is an enormous, expertly designed hand, no doubt designed by Bartholdi as well.
The wrist calmly rests on the floor, and the tip of the delicate torch in her hand just grazes
the ceiling of the gigantic warehouse. The rim of the towering torch appears to be wide
enough to fit about 12 full-grown men comfortably. This, as well as the head, is also
strictly framework.
Perfect! We are to apply the copper at once. I want to put it on display at the
Paris Universal Exposition once it is done. Louis!, Bartholdis sudden announcement
brought the attention to the otherwise unnoticed assistant, Fetch the workers. I want
them all in here within the hour.
Yes, sir, the young assistant answers proudly as he scuttles off.
Soon after, the assistant enters victorious as a throng of men pile into the
warehouse behind him. The head is soon unrecognizable as the workers position
themselves according to Bartholdi's demands. Promptly, a wave of copper inches its way
across her face as they begin hoisting the elegant plating onto the dull, iron framework.
As the morning matures, the brightening sun spills in and bounces off the copper,
illuminating the entire room. The blinding light forces me to focus my attention on the
rest of the warehouse. Bartholdi stands in the middle of the two structures, shouting
demands to anyone who can hear him. Just as I begin to lose interest in observing the
long process of applying the copper plating, a passing worker catches my attention.
You see, this is a gift from France to America. Both of these pieces are to be part
of one big statue. It will be called Liberty Enlightening the World! Once it is done, it will
be transported to the United States and assembled on an island in New York City. I heard

Farra 3
that Mr. Bartholdi picked the spot himself! He calls it the gateway to America... the
man journeys away before I can catch the extent of the intriguing explanation. So, these
pieces are intended to be part of one big statue. Considering the size of the individual
segments, I cant even imagine how enormous the entire statue will be once it is
completed. I continue to wander around aimlessly, trying to imagine what this marvelous
statue will look like.
I soon spot Eiffel hiding in the corner, scribbling in his book. Intrigued, I move
toward him and peek over his shoulder to steal a glance at his work. The most
magnificent woman I have ever seen stares back up at me.
She gracefully rests on an eleven-point star pedestal, enveloped in a wave of
flowing silk. One arm holds a book close to her chest, while the other stretches as far as it
can into the air, holding a torch. Her head looks even more glorious on top of the huge
statue, her detailed crown reaching for the stars. Small, messy handwriting in the corner
of the page states that this statue will be 305 feet tall. I can just imagine everyone in
celebration as the stunning statue is assembled, forever representing the friendship
between France and America. As I stand gazing at the drawing, imagining the completed
statue towering above me, I realize that I am witnessing history in the making.

Farra 4
Work Cited
"Gustave Eiffel." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Shea Media. "How Tall Is the Statue of Liberty?" How Tall Is the Statue of Liberty? N.p.,
n.d.Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
United States. National Park Service. "Creating the Statue of Liberty." National Parks
Service.U.S.Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.