The famous structure built by the French and gifted to the U.S. in 1886 is the Statue of Liberty. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it symbolizes freedom and democracy. The statue was a gift from France to commemorate the centennial of American independence and to strengthen French-American relations. Constructed in France and assembled on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue stands at 151 feet tall, and with its pedestal, reaches a height of 305 feet. It has become an enduring symbol of hope and refuge for immigrants arriving in the United States.