Midwest village of just 141 people is home to mini ‘Statue of Liberty’ – after it spent over 120 years in New York City
A LITTLE version of Lady Liberty has made its way out of New York City and into the Midwest.
The smaller version of the iconic Statue of Liberty landmark is now showcased outside of the Empire State.
The National Building Arts Center in Sauget, Illinois, is the new home to Little Liberty.
According to a local Fox affiliate, the move began last year.
The miniature replica — built by an immigrant who wanted to convey his love for the US — was housed on top of a warehouse on 43 West 65th Street in New York City for over a century.
"It was on top of the warehouse for 101 years,” Michael Allen, executive director of the National Building Arts Center, told the outlet.
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"That building became apartments, and they donated it to the Brooklyn Museum.
"Eventually, they decided their mission was more focused on contemporary art, and they partnered with us in choosing things from their collection that should be here rather than there.”
The statue underwent repairs and restoration before making its debut in September 2023.
ROAD TRIP
The statue made a journey of about 1,000 miles to the Midwest.
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This year, the museum opened up about the big move on Instagram.
The post included pictures of the statue lying on its side while being appraised by experts.
"National Building Arts Center's own Kyle Lansing and Frank Trampe make notes as they prepare for the completion of our Little Liberty project," the caption said.
In another Instagram post, the museum detailed the history of the statue.
"Transferred from the Brooklyn Museum, this is the largest replica of the iconic Statue of Liberty, 1886," the post explained.
"[It] symbolizes the aspirations of the United States to be a global beacon of democracy and liberty.
"Little Liberty was commissioned by William Flattau for his Liberty Warehouse in a patriotic gesture from an immigrant who came to love his new nation."
Lying on a flatbed in most photos, the statue is a spitting image of the real deal.
"Little Liberty's nose brings good luck," read another caption, with one woman touching the nose of the statue.
PUBLIC OPINION
People chimed in the comments section with their two cents on the big move.
"I’m really going to miss Little Liberty’s laying the f**k down era," one wrote.
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"Wishing I could be there," another added.
Others questioned why the statue made the big move to such a small city of just 141 people.
