INDIANAPOLIS — Tiffany wasn’t the only one drawing crowds into shopping malls in the 80s. In fact, two years before Tiffany hit the scene, Lady Liberty was making her way around Central Indiana shopping malls.
The 24-foot tall, 500 pound papier-mâché replica of the Statue of Liberty that was made by students at Guion Creek Middle School in Pike Township.
Teacher Glenn Litts said the project enhanced his students’ world view.
“It gave them an awareness,” said Litts. “An awareness of their heritage, an awareness of some of the particulars involved in America in the 1800s and the other countries work hand-in-hand.”
One student told former WRTV reporter Derrik Thomas the Statue of Liberty made him think of friendship.
“I think it’s more of a relationship between America and France because it took more than just Americans to build this,” said Tim Kelly. “It was the French that built it and the Americans that assembled it here. I think it’s friendship. That’s the thing that makes it work.”
“I feel like it’s a symbol of freedom and it just means it’s a land of opportunities. It’s just a great symbol,” said another student.
The replica was more than just a teaching tool. It was also a fundraiser.
At the time, there was a national push to raise money to help with the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. The class used the mall tour as a way to raise funds to go towards that restoration.
The three city mall tour began at Lafayette Square and ended at the Mound Mall in Anderson. By the time it reached the Washington Square Mall on July 5, the group had collected about $650.
