Liberty Island outmoded and obsolete, disused and its substantial stone walls were then used as the distinctive base for the Statue of Liberty given by the Third French Republic for the American 1876 centenary celebrations. It had become a part of the base for the Statue of Liberty after the island was first seen by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the statue's sculptor. The National Park Service (which had been created in 1916) took over operations of the island in two stages: in 1933, and the remainder in 1937. The military installation was completely removed by 1944. The statue, entitled "Liberty Enlightening the World",
Statue of William the Conqueror is also a commemorative plaque. William carries a gonfalon (banner) donated by Pope Alexander II. The sculptor, in order to make the work appear realistic, based his design on the Bayeux tapestry. Created with the help of a national subscription, it was unveiled on October 26, 1851. The six other statues are a later addition of September 19, 1875. The French inscription on the plaque translates into English as follows: This monument was erected by national subscriptionThe equestrian statue on October 26, 1851The statues of six dukes of Normandy on September 19, 1875 The statue is located on Place Guillaume-le-Conquérant