The country that gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States is France. This iconic symbol of freedom and democracy was presented to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence and to celebrate the friendship between the two nations. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and constructed with the assistance of engineer Gustave Eiffel, the statue was completed in 1884 and officially dedicated on October 28, 1886. The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and remains a global symbol of hope and welcome for immigrants arriving in America.