On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was formally dedicated on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A gift from France, the statue honored the friendship between the two nations and ideals of liberty. President Grover Cleveland accepted the monument on behalf of the United States. Over the years, the statue became closely linked with immigration, as new arrivals saw it while entering New York by ship. It also appeared in art, literature, and political speeches as a symbol of freedom and opportunity. The statue remains a national monument and an enduring icon of the United States.
