Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the United States, commemorating the alliance during the American Revolution and celebrating shared ideals of liberty and democracy. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with engineering by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It has since become an enduring symbol of freedom and welcome to immigrants arriving by sea.