August 5
Cornerstone Laid for Statue of Liberty Pedestal
Masonic leaders and transatlantic dignitaries gathered on Bedloe’s Island to place the six-ton cornerstone of the pedestal that would anchor France’s gift of liberty to the United States.
Summary
By the late 19th century, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France commemorating American independence and the alliance during the Revolutionary War, had arrived in New York but required a massive pedestal on Bedloe's Island. American fundraising efforts, led by figures including Joseph Pulitzer, had secured the necessary funds after delays. Construction of the pedestal, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, involved innovative use of concrete and granite facing. On August 5, 1884, the cornerstone was laid in a Masonic ceremony attended by officials, dignitaries from France and the United States, and members of the Grand Lodge of New York. The six-ton granite block from Connecticut was positioned with full Masonic rites, speeches, and a 21-gun salute.
Context
By the early 1880s the colossal copper figure known as Liberty Enlightening the World stood nearly complete in a Paris workshop, the product of a decade-long collaboration between French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and a committee of American supporters. The statue itself was financed by the French people as a gesture of friendship marking the centennial of American independence and the wartime alliance of 1778. American organizers, however, bore responsibility for the massive stone pedestal required to raise the monument above the waters of New York Harbor on the former military site of Bedloe’s Island.
What Happened
Work on the pedestal began in 1883 under the direction of architect Richard Morris Hunt, whose design called for thick walls of poured concrete faced with granite. General Charles P. Stone oversaw the engineering of the foundation within the star-shaped walls of the old Fort Wood. By the summer of 1884 the northeast corner of that foundation was ready for the ceremonial stone.
Aftermath
The six-ton granite block from Connecticut was lowered into place during a driving rain on August 5, 1884. A copper time capsule containing copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, presidential medals, newspapers, and Masonic records was sealed beneath it. The formal Masonic rites were conducted by Grand Master William A. Brodie of the Grand Lodge of New York, assisted by other officers who tested the stone with the traditional square, level, and plumb before consecrating it with corn, wine, and oil. A twenty-one-gun salute and performances of the French and American national anthems accompanied the proceedings, which were witnessed by representatives of both governments, military officers, foreign diplomats, and prominent citizens.
Legacy
Although fundraising shortfalls soon halted further construction and the statue itself remained in storage until 1885, the laying of the cornerstone marked a public commitment by American civic leaders to complete the project. The pedestal was finished the following year, and the statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886. The monument quickly became an enduring symbol of freedom and a landmark of New York Harbor.
Why It Matters
The ceremony symbolized transatlantic friendship and American commitment to completing the monument, which was dedicated in 1886 and became a global emblem of freedom and immigration. The pedestal's engineering represented advances in large-scale concrete construction and set a precedent for public-private partnerships in creating national landmarks that endure as cultural touchstones.
Related Questions
Why was the cornerstone ceremony conducted by Freemasons?
Masonic rites for laying cornerstones of major public buildings were a long-standing American tradition dating back to George Washington, and the American Committee delegated the honor to the Grand Lodge of New York.
What items were placed inside the cornerstone’s time capsule?
A copper box contained copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, presidential medals, New York newspapers, a list of Grand Lodge officers, and other commemorative articles.
Where exactly on Bedloe’s Island was the cornerstone placed?
It was set in the northeast corner of the foundation inside the star-shaped walls of the former Fort Wood.
Did fundraising difficulties delay work after the ceremony?
Yes. Funds ran out shortly afterward, halting construction until Joseph Pulitzer’s successful 1885 campaign raised more than $100,000.
How large was the granite cornerstone?
The block weighed approximately six tons and came from a quarry in Connecticut.
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America 250 Atlas: Cornerstone Laid for Statue of Liberty Pedestal is part of U.S. presidential, constitutional, or national civic history.
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Sources
- Liberty Island Chronology, National Park Service. Accessed 2026-07-02.