Exposition : Lady Liberty, derrière l’icône, le génie d’Eiffel

From 12 October to 12 November 2026, the Tour Eiffel presents an unprecedented exhibition dedicated to the Statue of Liberty on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of its inauguration.

Conceived in partnership with the MuAM – Musée des Arts et Métiers and installed on the terrace of the 1st floor, the exhibition invites visitors to (re)discover one of the most famous monuments in the world and, notably, the decisive role played by Gustave Eiffel in its construction.

Often little known, the story of the Statue of Liberty begins in Paris where architect Auguste Bartholdi designed its monumental silhouette. Gustave Eiffel, for his part, conceived the ingenious metal structure that still allows it today to withstand the winds of New York Bay. Offered by France to the United States and inaugurated in New York harbor in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has become, over time, a universal symbol of liberty and hope.

A chronological journey to discover the history of Lady Liberty

In a tour consisting of twelve illustrated panels, the exhibition, produced with the assistance of Lagardère x Arteum, the boutique concessionaire of the Tour Eiffel, looks back at the birth of this extraordinary project, its construction, its journey to America and the exceptional legacy left in history, art and the collective imagination. Visitors will notably discover plans and documents related to the work of Gustave Eiffel, illustrations tracing the different stages of the statue's construction in Paris, as well as contents devoted to its crossing to New York. The exhibition also spotlights its numerous replicas around the world and the major influence it still exerts today.

Around two main chapters, visitors travel through the key stages of the history of the Statue of Liberty:

The first part, "La conception", looks back at the genesis of the project, from the idea championed by Édouard de Laboulaye to the creation of the Statue by Auguste Bartholdi, through the decisive role of Gustave Eiffel in the design of its innovative metal structure.

"La postérité" then focuses on the exceptional destiny of the Statue after its inauguration. Having become one of the most recognizable faces of America, Lady Liberty has established herself as a global symbol of freedom, inspiring numerous artists and filmmakers as well as entire generations across the world.

A tour designed for the whole family

Throughout the tour, boxes specially designed for young audiences offer questions, anecdotes and unusual facts to discover in a fun way the intertwined history of the two icons that are the Statue of Liberty and the Tour Eiffel. By answering a quiz featured on several panels of the exhibition, visitors can also try to win gifts inspired by "Lady Liberty", to be collected in the boutique on the 1st floor of the monument.

An exhibition organized in partnership with the MuAM - Musée des Arts et Métiers

The Tour Eiffel exhibition echoes "Lady Liberté. De la sueur, de l'audace, du génie" presented at the MuAM until 1 August 2027.