Exhibition "A Statue for Liberty — Bartholdi's Dream, from Paris to New York" Musée d'Orsay from September 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027

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Dive into the fascinating history of the Statue of Liberty with this immersive experience at the Musée d’Orsay. Thanks to virtual reality, discover Bartholdi’s dream, the stages involved in creating the monument, and its incredible journey from Paris to New York, in an experience combining history, art, and technology.

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What to expect

A globally recognized symbol, the Statue of Liberty seems inseparable from the New York skyline today. Yet, before becoming one of the world’s most famous monuments, it began as an ambitious project conceived in 19th-century France. The immersive experience "A Statue for Liberty — Bartholdi’s Dream, from Paris to New York" invites the public to discover this story from a unique perspective: that of virtual reality.

Presented at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, this experience allows visitors to step back in time and follow the key stages that led to the creation of the statue envisioned by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. Throughout the journey, visitors explore the monument's various design phases, the people involved in its creation, and the many challenges that accompanied this Franco-American project.

Thanks to immersive staging, the story is not merely told through documents or artworks; it comes to life around the visitor. The experience offers a deeper understanding of how an idea born in the 19th century gradually took the form of a monumental structure before crossing the Atlantic.

An immersive journey into the birth of an iconic monument

A journey through time from Versailles to New York

The experience offers a true historical journey. The narrative begins in 1865 in Versailles, at a time when the idea for a monument symbolizing the ties between France and the United States was first emerging. Republican thinker Édouard Laboulaye played a pivotal role in conceptualizing this gift, intended to represent the friendship between the two nations.

Visitors then continue their journey to Paris, where the project gradually took concrete shape. Workshops became the setting for a massive artistic and technical undertaking. The experience offers a glimpse into the working environment of Gaget, Gauthier & Cie, where numerous artisans and workers collaborated to bring the statue to life. The story continues up to 1886, the year the Statue of Liberty was finally erected in New York. This chronological progression allows visitors to gauge the scale of the project and the many years required to transform an ambitious idea into a monumental work.

An immersive experience powered by virtual reality

What makes this offering unique is its use of virtual reality. Wearing a headset, visitors are immersed in recreated environments, gaining a better understanding of the context in which the Statue of Liberty was designed and built.

The experience lasts approximately 50 minutes in total, with about 35 minutes dedicated to the virtual reality headset experience. The tour is designed to let participants move through a recreated world and explore history in a way that differs from a traditional museum visit.

This technology offers a new approach to art history. In particular, it allows visitors to visualize the scale of the workshops, the labor involved in creating the monument, and the various stages of its development.

A key feature of this immersive experience is the recreation of the Gaget, Gauthier & Cie workshop. This long-gone workshop has been recreated with meticulous attention to detail, allowing visitors to virtually step inside a site central to the statue’s creation.

Nearly 600 artisans at the heart of an extraordinary project

Behind Bartholdi’s work lay a vast team of artisans and professionals. The creation of the Statue of Liberty involved nearly 600 workers and artisans, a testament to the project's immense scale.

The experience highlights this collective effort, showing that creating such a massive monument relies on more than just an artist's inspiration; it also requires technical expertise, complex organization, and the contributions of many people.

The tour also covers the various obstacles encountered throughout the project, particularly regarding technical, political, and financial challenges. This approach allows visitors to discover the Statue of Liberty not only as a work of art but also as the result of a remarkable human and industrial undertaking.

Key figures associated with this story include Gustave Eiffel, whose expertise was instrumental in designing the statue's internal structure. The narrative also highlights Joseph Pulitzer, as well as the many donors and individuals who helped drive the project forward.

A cultural outing combining history, art, and technology

"A Statue for Liberty" is designed for visitors wishing to explore a major chapter in French art history......Franco-American [history] in a unique way. The experience combines several dimensions: sculpture, history, architecture, engineering, and immersive technologies.

It also complements a more traditional exploration of Bartholdi’s work. Concurrently, the Musée d’Orsay is hosting the exhibition "Auguste Bartholdi: Liberty Enlightening the World," dedicated to the sculptor and his work.

This complementary relationship allows visitors to explore Bartholdi’s world through different approaches. The exhibition offers a chance to discover the artworks and historical context, while the virtual reality experience provides an immersive look at the stages of the Statue of Liberty’s creation.

Why book your ticket in advance?

Booking ahead is a key step in ensuring a smooth visit. The experience operates on scheduled time slots and welcomes visitors in groups of 10, which naturally limits the number of participants per session.

Booking in advance makes it easier to select a date and time that fit your schedule. This is particularly useful during peak periods or when the visit is part of a trip to Paris with a pre-planned itinerary.

Tickets may also be available on-site, subject to availability. However, for a planned outing, purchasing tickets beforehand allows you to better organize your visit to the Musée d’Orsay.

An exceptional location at the Musée d’Orsay

The experience takes place in one of Paris’s iconic cultural landmarks: the Musée d’Orsay. It is housed in the temporary exhibition space of the Seine Gallery (Galerie Seine) on Level 0.

The museum itself is a major cultural destination, located in a former Parisian railway station. Its central location makes it easy to combine this experience with a day dedicated to the capital’s museums, monuments, and historic districts.

The dedicated space spans nearly 700 m², providing an environment large enough to offer an immersive journey tailored to the virtual reality format. ### Dates and Opening Hours

The experience is available from September 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027.

The scheduled opening hours are as follows:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 9:45 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

The extended Thursday hours—running until 9:45 PM—are particularly suitable for those wishing to plan an evening cultural outing.

Prices and Practical Information

The standard timed-entry ticket is €32. A reduced rate of €16 is also available, as well as a member rate of €14, subject to applicable conditions.

The standard ticket includes access to the Musée d’Orsay’s permanent collections and exhibitions, allowing visitors to enjoy a broader cultural experience alongside their booked activity.

The experience is available in French, English, Spanish, and Chinese, enabling an international audience to follow the tour in various languages.

Regarding age requirements, the experience is open to visitors aged 8 and up, though it is recommended for ages 13 and up. Certain precautions apply to the use of virtual reality technology. Specifically, the experience is not recommended for pregnant women or individuals with medical conditions that could be aggravated by using a VR headset—such as epilepsy, balance disorders, or certain vision impairments.

Accessibility provisions are in place for visitors with reduced mobility. However, the use of a walker or motorized wheelchair is not compatible with the VR experience. Manual wheelchairs may be available for the comfort of some visitors.

A historical adventure experienced in a new way

With "A Statue for Freedom — Bartholdi’s Dream, from Paris to New York," the public discovers a lesser-known side of the Statue of Liberty’s history: its conception, its construction, and the collective endeavor that made its completion possible.

From the project’s inception in the 19th century to the monument’s installation in New York, the experience traces over twenty years of history, highlighting the artists, engineers, workers, donors, and notable figures who contributed to the project.

Virtual reality adds an extra dimension to this story. It allows visitors to travel through recreated historical settings and eras while going behind the scenes of a project that achieved worldwide fame.

Whether for a cultural outing in Paris, a family activity (subject to age requirements), or simply to deepen one's knowledge......insights into one of the world’s most recognizable monuments, this experience offers a unique way to discover Bartholdi’s work.

Booking your ticket in advance allows you to plan your visit and select an available time slot, while also taking the opportunity to explore the Musée d’Orsay and other cultural offerings included with the ticket, subject to pricing conditions.

Common questions

What is the "A Statue for Freedom" experience?

It is an immersive virtual reality experience dedicated to the creation of the Statue of Liberty. It allows visitors to follow the project conceived by Auguste Bartholdi, from his initial inspirations to the monument's arrival in New York.

What is the minimum age for the experience?

The experience is open to visitors aged 8 and up, though it is particularly recommended for ages 13 and older due to its immersive format and the use of virtual reality.

Which languages are available?

The content is available in four languages: French, English, Spanish, and Chinese. Visitors can enjoy the narrative in their preferred language.

What does the immersive journey reveal?

The journey traces several stages of the Statue of Liberty's creation. It covers the project's origins, the Parisian workshops, the challenges encountered, and the monument's transport to New York.

What historical period is covered?

The experience takes visitors on a journey from 1865 to 1886. The story begins in Versailles with the project's inception, then follows its construction in Paris and its final installation in New York.

Is Auguste Bartholdi central to the experience?

Yes. The journey focuses specifically on the work of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and his ambition to create this monument, which has become a major symbol of freedom.

Does the experience show the workshop where the statue was made?

Yes. A key feature of the journey is the recreation of the Gaget, Gauthier & Cie workshop. Visitors can virtually explore the workspace where numerous artisans contributed to the statue's creation.

How many people were involved in building the statue?

The recreation highlights the work of nearly 600 artisans and laborers who participated in creating the gigantic copper monument envisioned by Bartholdi. ### Is it necessary to book tickets in advance?
Booking is highly recommended, particularly because the experience operates with limited group sizes. Walk-in entry may be possible, subject to remaining availability.

Exhibition "A Statue for Liberty — Bartholdi's Dream, from Paris to New York" Musée d'Orsay from September 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027

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AURA INVALIDES: An immersive experience at the heart of the Invalides Dome in Paris!