"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

These famous words mark the pedestal of the most colossal metal statue ever made, and perhaps the most famous and beloved sculpture in the world: the Statue of Liberty. Lifting her torch high above the waters of New York Harbor, Lady Liberty has welcomed generations of people seeking freedom and a better way of life in America.

This book traces the evolution of the statue's design and details the monumental feat of its construction, from the commissioning of the French sculptor who designed the giant statue to its assembly in puzzle-like copper segments suspended from a system of iron girders. On a cloudy day in 1886, Lady Liberty's face was unveiled at last. And in 1986, for the occasion of her centennial celebration, she was treated to an extensive renovation, so that the light of Liberty might continue to enlighten the world.