What is the largest gift ever given in history?
Try to guess. And before answering, let’s set some criteria. We’ll exclude gifts to deities, such as the Leshan Giant Buddha in China, monuments built for deceased spouses, like the Taj Mahal, or rulers tombs, like the Egyptian pyramids. Instead, we’ll focus solely on gifts exchanged between living human beings.
You may be surprised to learn that the largest gift in terms of sheer size is the Statue of Liberty. This iconic statue was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with its metal framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel (best known for the Eiffel Tower), construction on the statue began in May 1876 and took nine years to complete.
In 1878, the statue’s head was showcased at the Paris World’s Fair. The statue itself was inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas, symbolizing freedom. It finally arrived in New York Harbor in June 1885, marking a major moment in U.S. history.
Weighing approximately 450,000 pounds (204.1 tons) and standing at an impressive 305 feet 1 inch (93 meters), the Statue of Liberty remains the largest gift ever given.
If you want to find more details about the fascinating story of the Statue of Liberty, check out Liberty’s Torch: The Great Adventure to Build the Statue of Liberty by Elizabeth Mitchell.
Find more fascinating things about gifts, or check what original gifts we found.