Dedicated October 28, 1886, “Liberty Enlightening the World” is our beloved behemoth of a copper statue designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and gifted to the people of the United States of America by the people of France. She has held her torch high in NY Harbor, through triumph and tragedy, for the last 135 years.

In this multi-media program, we will look at the history, assembly and dedication of the statue, its original symbolism, and what it has come to mean from many perspectives over time. The story will be told through music, images, recordings, poetry, and prose. We will end with a group recitation of Emma Lazarus’s sonnet, “The New Colossus.”

Dr. Bonnie Thurston will curate and share a selection of poems.

Bonnie Thurston, a native of West Virginia, lives near Wheeling. She earned the B.A. in English (First Honors) from Bethany College, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia.  

Bonnie has written or edited 23 theological books, contributed to reference works in New Testament, and taught at the university level for 30 years. Her poetry has been anthologized, and frequently appears in periodicals.

The author of six volumes of verse, Bonnie is an avid reader, gardener and cook, enjoys classical music and loves the West Virginia hills.

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