Photo : Musée des Arts et Métiers
Lady Liberty. Sweat, Boldness, Genius
Paris was the secret birthplace of the world's most famous statue, crafted through sheer ingenuity and sweat long before she ever set sail. Step directly into the chaotic, buzzing workshops of the 19th century to witness the technical mastery behind her copper skin and iron skeleton. It is a brilliant immersive dive into the collective human brilliance that brought this monumental giant to life.
Musée des arts et métiers (Paris 3rd)
About
The exhibition Lady Liberté: De la sueur, de l’audace, du génie explores the French ingenuity behind the Statue of Liberty at the Musée des arts et métiers. Running until August 1, 2027, this immersive experience takes visitors inside the Gaget and Bartholdi workshops to witness the technical feats and human dedication involved in its creation. With 3D displays and original artifacts like the full-scale copper index, the exhibition celebrates the craftsmanship behind this colossal project. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, with ticket prices ranging from 9 to 21 euros.
The Statue of Liberty, or Lady Liberty, is not just the icon of New York and the United States: it is also a masterpiece of ingenuity… with a French touch! Born in late 19th-century Paris, in the Gaget workshops and that of Auguste Bartholdi, its construction mobilized know-how, trades, and men capable of pushing the technical limits of their era.
On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, the MuAM invites you to dive behind the scenes of this exceptional project through an unprecedented and immersive exhibition. Between video projections, 3D installations, and authentic settings, step into the heart of a work shaped by sweat, driven by boldness, and carried by genius.
Immersion in the workshops
From the first enlargement techniques to the grand departure for New York, the exhibition takes you through the construction of Lady Liberty step by step! The clamor of hammering, the smell of wet plaster, the appearance of Auguste Bartholdi... the sensory journey draws you into the effervescence of the Gaget workshops.
Under their glass roofs, immersive displays reveal the shaping of the plaster models as well as the creation of the first full-scale wooden templates. Further on, you are plunged into the heart of the forges, where each copper plate is assembled onto metal frameworks. The tour concludes in the bowels of the statue, revealing the ingenious skeleton designed by Gustave Eiffel... before it was crated for its voyage across the Atlantic.
Materials and men
Blacksmiths, carpenters, sculptors, boilermakers... nearly a dozen trades, most of which still exist today, worked to bring this giant of copper and iron to life! Amidst the bustle of the workshops, every movement counts, and every skill interlocks to serve a true collective epic made of challenges, artisanal prowess, and technical experimentation.
Pieces of Lady Liberty
The exhibition presents iconic pieces from the MuAM collections, brought out from reserves for the occasion! Copper and plaster models of the head, a mold of an ear, a life-size copper index finger... these are precious witnesses that reveal, up close, the materials, the craftsmanship, and the ingenuity at work in this extraordinary human and technical adventure.
Our take on this event
Housed at the Musée des arts et métiers, Lady Liberté: De la sueur, de l’audace, du génie offers a deep dive into the construction of the iconic statue. Marking the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, the exhibition highlights the work of the blacksmiths, carpenters, and sculptors who built this copper and iron giant. Visitors can view iconic pieces from the museum's reserves, including copper head models and plaster casts.
The sensory journey leads you through the Gaget workshops, showcasing every step from the creation of wooden templates to the complex iron framework designed by Gustave Eiffel. Through video projections and realistic settings, you will experience the atmosphere of the original workshops. The exhibition space is designed to be fully accessible to wheelchair users.
The event runs from October 3, 2026, to August 1, 2027. Opening hours are from 11:00 to 21:00 on Thursdays, and from 11:00 to 18:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Admission prices are between 9 and 21 euros.
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Light rain
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