The framework of the Statue of Liberty was designed by which well-known European engineer?

While French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi created the iconic copper exterior of the Statue of Liberty, he needed a brilliant engineering mind to design the internal structure that would support it. After the project's initial engineer passed away, Bartholdi turned to the renowned French expert in metal frameworks, who devised an ingenious solution to hold up the massive, yet delicate, sculpture.

His design featured a central pylon of puddled iron, acting as a spine from which a secondary skeleton extended. This framework supports the thin copper skin using a system of flat iron bars that act as flexible springs. This was a critical innovation, as it allows the statue's exterior to expand and contract with temperature changes and withstand the strong winds of New York Harbor without cracking or breaking. The skin is not rigidly attached, but rather hangs from the frame, a technique known as curtain wall construction.

This engineer's work on Lady Liberty was completed in 1886, just before he began his most famous project. He applied the same mastery of iron lattice construction to create the iconic tower in Paris that would bear his name, which was completed for the 1889 World's Fair. His hidden contribution to one of America's greatest symbols was a precursor to his own world-famous landmark.