Originally Frederic Bartholdi wanted this to be placed at the Suez Canal to light the way to Asia; plan B was America
He definitely wanted to commemorate the 
idea of liberty and what that meant, and keep that as a ... Bartholdi, who saw his 
statue as a way to remind Americans how much the French had... [DOC] [TLE] Auguste Bartholdi - Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. ... [PAR] Plan Your Visit ... holding a torch, which he called Egypt (or Progress) Brings 
Light to Asia.