Statue of Liberty at 140: Musée d'Orsay and Musée des Arts et Métiers Honor Bartholdi with Dual Exhibitions
In celebration of the Statue of Liberty's 140th anniversary, Paris's Musée d'Orsay and Musée des Arts et Métiers are offering two exhibitions alongside a virtual reality experience. The Musée d'Orsay will host 'Auguste Bartholdi. La Liberté éclairant le monde' from September 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027, featuring approximately one hundred works that detail Bartholdi's artistic journey, including the statue's diplomatic roots, fundraising efforts, and the roles of Viollet-le-Duc and Gustave Eiffel. A 35-minute VR experience titled 'Une statue pour la Liberté' will also be available. Meanwhile, 'Lady Liberté' at the Musée des Arts et Métiers runs from September 22, 2026, to August 1, 2027, focusing on Bartholdi's materials and methods. President Grover Cleveland unveiled the statue on October 28, 1886.
Key facts
- The Statue of Liberty celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2026.
- Musée d'Orsay exhibition 'Auguste Bartholdi. La Liberté éclairant le monde' runs September 15, 2026 – January 31, 2027.
- Musée des Arts et Métiers exhibition 'Lady Liberté. De la sueur, de l’audace, du génie' runs September 22, 2026 – August 1, 2027.
- A 35-minute VR experience 'Une statue pour la Liberté - Le rêve de Bartholdi, de Paris à New York' is presented at Musée d'Orsay from September 15, 2026 – January 31, 2027.
- Auguste Bartholdi was born in Colmar in 1834 and died in 1904.
- The statue was unveiled on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland.
- Joseph Pulitzer's New York World campaign raised $102,000 from over 120,000 donors for the pedestal.
- The statue's internal framework was designed by Gustave Eiffel and Maurice Koechlin.
- The copper sheets are 2.5 millimeters thick, and the statue stands 46 meters tall.
- The Gaget, Gauthier & Cie workshop employed 600 workers over four years.
Entities
Artists
- Auguste Bartholdi
- Ary Scheffer
- Jean-Léon Gérôme
- Édouard Laboulaye
- Gustave Eiffel
- Maurice Koechlin
- Joseph Pulitzer
- Viollet-le-Duc
- Ismaïl Pacha
- Grover Cleveland
- Marie Simon
- François Blanchetière
- Juliette Chevée
- Albert Fernique
- J.S. Johnston
- Auguste Rodin
Institutions
- Musée d'Orsay
- Musée des Arts et Métiers
- Musée Bartholdi
- Gaget, Gauthier & Cie
- New York World
- Aristeas
- GEDEON Experiences
- BackLight
- VIVE Arts
- Le Cnam
- The World
Locations
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Colmar
- Egypt
- Yemen
- Suez Canal
- Philadelphia
- Bedloe's Island
- Plaine Monceau
- Rue Vavin
- Rue de Chazelles
- Belfort
- Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
- Solférino