An American Classic: Lady Liberty Turns 125

French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi's Paris workshop houses portions of the Statue of Liberty during its construction, circa 1880. Originally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World," the great work was a gift to America from the French people to celebrate the Franco-American alliance that helped win the American Revolution. (Hirz/Getty Images)

Immigrants gaze out at Lady Liberty from Ellis Island in the 1930s. <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23782/new-yorks-golden-age-the-1940s">New York's Golden Age: the 1940s</a> (FPG/Getty Images)

Apr. 01, 1952: Sightseers hang out the windows of Lady Liberty's crown. (Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

1954: Korea's children's choir visits the statue of liberty. (Peter Stackpole./Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi's Paris workshop houses portions of the Statue of Liberty during its construction, circa 1880.  <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23044/empire-state-building-made-by-hand">The Empire State Building: Made By Hand</a> (Authenticated News/Getty Images)

A group of immigrants traveling aboard a ship celebrate as they catch their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York Harbor, in 1915. (Edwin Levick/Getty Images)

The Statue of Liberty poses for a photo in 1939. (Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Moonlight glistens on the waters surrounding the Statue of Liberty as a lonely tug boat steams past in New York Harbor, 1946. (Andreas Feininger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Liberty by night. <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/27282/the-chrysler-building-metal-marvel">The Chrysler Building: A Metal Marvel</a> (Andreas Feininger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Dec. 17, 1985: Scaffolding comes down from Liberty's torch after some cleaning. (PAUL DEMARIA/AFP/Getty Images )

The final hole at Pontchartrain Beach, Louisiana, seen in 1955. (Three Lions/Getty Images)

The head of the Statue of Liberty on display in the garden at the Champs du Mars at the World's Fair in Paris to drum up support and contributions for the completion of the great project, 1878. (FPG/Getty Images)

The forearm and torch of the Statue of Liberty on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 1876. In order to raise funds for the completion of the statue and its pedestal, members of the public could pay fifty cents to climb to the balcony of the torch. See more great pictures in <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/26432/american-classic-lady-liberty#index/0">the full gallery at Life.com</a>. (FPG/Getty Images)