oct 28, 1886 - Statue of Liberty

Description:

On October 28, 1886, a ceremony of dedication was held at Bedloe's Island in New York City, presided over by former New York governor President Grover Cleveland. The event was followed by a parade in New York City, with estimates ranging from several hundred thousand to a million people watching. President Cleveland led the procession and was the grand marshal of the parade. The parade began at Madison Square and continued to the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. As the parade passed the New York Stock Exchange, traders threw ticker tape from the windows, beginning the New York tradition of the ticker-tape parade.

A nautical parade began at 12:45 p.m., and President Cleveland embarked on a yacht to Bedloe's Island for the dedication. Lesseps made the first speech on behalf of the French committee, followed by Senator William M. Evarts. A French flag draped across the statue's face was to be lowered to unveil the statue at the end of Evarts's speech. President Cleveland spoke next, stating that the statue's "stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man's oppression until Liberty enlightens the world."

The ceremonies were reserved for dignitaries, with only women allowed access. Area suffragists chartered a boat and got as close as they could to the island, making speeches applauding the embodiment of Liberty as a woman and advocating women's right to vote.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: