Statue of Liberty 1889, there were 38 U.S. states), although this was not done. Above that, a balcony was placed on each side, framed by pillars. Bartholdi placed an observation platform near the top of the pedestal, above which the statue itself rises. According to author Louis Auchincloss, the pedestal "craggily evokes the power of an ancient Europe over which rises the dominating figure of the Statue of Liberty". The committee hired former army General Charles Pomeroy Stone to oversee the construction work. Construction on the foundation began in 1883, and the pedestal's cornerstone was laid in 1884. In Hunt's original conception, the
Bartholdi Park the cast iron and bronze coating, add modern pumps and motors, and install a new water treatment and filtration system. The fountain was returned to the park in spring of 2011. The fountain is 30 feet tall and weighs 30 tons and features three 11 feet tall nymphs holding the upper basin. Other decorations include turtles, cherubs, frogs, fish, as well as twelve electric lamps. A partial listing of the currently showcased plants at the park includes: Bartholdi Park Bartholdi Park is a public park named after French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who is known primarily for designing the Statue