Page "Statue of Liberty" Paragraph 22

Despite its initial focus on the elites, the Union was successful in raising funds from across French society.

Schoolchildren and ordinary citizens gave, as did 181 French municipalities.

Laboulaye's political allies supported the call, as did descendants of the French contingent in the American Revolutionary War.

Less idealistically, contributions came from those who hoped for American support in the French attempt to build the Panama Canal.

The firm of Japy Frères, copper merchants, donated all the copper needed to build the statue, a gift valued at 64, 000 francs ( about $ 16, 000 at the time or the equivalent of US $ in ).

The copper is said to have come from a mine in Visnes, Norway, though this has not been conclusively determined.