The Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States by France in 1886 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of American independence. At 305 feet tall including its pedestal, the statue weighs 225 tons and towers over New York Harbor. Millions of immigrants saw Lady Liberty as their first sight of America as they arrived at nearby Ellis Island. Over time the statue has required extensive maintenance and restoration work to repair damage from weathering and storms like Hurricane Sandy due to its exposed location.