A French sculpting company has announced ambitious plans to build what it claims will be the tallest statue in the Western world to honor the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. Paris-based Atelier Missor confirmed the authenticity of the project when contacted by phone, though the company requested that detailed questions be submitted via email.
The announcement carries significant historical resonance, as France previously gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence. The upcoming 250th birthday celebration on July 4, 2026, has already generated nationwide planning efforts and is now attracting international attention beyond U.S. borders.
Atelier Missor unveiled their proposal through a social media post on X, writing: "After months of hard work, we're proud to unveil the statue we'll build to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Guardian of Liberty." The company emphasized the massive scale of their vision, stating that the photograph they shared showed only a scale model, while "the real one will be gigantic, the tallest statue in the West."
The scale model itself already appears enormous, depicting a muscular male figure with a cloth draped around his waist, carrying a large spherical object. The white sculpture appears to be constructed from stone and demonstrates the monumental proportions planned for the final installation. However, Atelier Missor has not specified exact height measurements or provided a clear definition of what they mean by "the West."
For context, the current tallest statue in North America is the Birth of the New World statue in Puerto Rico, also known as the Christopher Columbus monument, which stands 360 feet tall. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Soviet-era Ukrainian Motherland Monument in Kyiv reaches 335 feet in height, providing reference points for the proposed statue's potential scale.
The French company acknowledged both the financial and logistical challenges ahead, noting that "so many people have offered to fund it, but the real challenge will be getting visas so we can build it on American soil." They expressed confidence despite the tight timeline, declaring that "finishing it in less than a year won't be easy—but as Napoleon once said, 'Impossible is not French!'"
The project has already drawn artistic criticism from some quarters. British artist Alexander Adams commented on the sculpture's design, stating: "With all due respect to the team, I believe this laudable attempt falls short. If one wishes to convey 'guardian of liberty' then different symbolism should have been devised." Adams suggested that the statue should show more physical strain and effort, adding that "if a figure can carry the world as easily as a balloon, then the achievement goes from titanic to banal."
Adams further recommended that the final design should "require an aesthetic that fuses the heroism of the Greeks with the modern spirit," incorporating elements like "strain and stress to the anatomy—show sinews straining and veins raised" to better convey the monumental effort of protecting liberty.
The 250th anniversary preparations are already underway across the United States. On June 14, Washington, D.C., hosted a significant military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The parade featured approximately 6,600 soldiers, 84 military vehicles including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, and more than 60 aircraft flying overhead, demonstrating the scale of planned celebrations.
Looking ahead, substantial questions remain about whether Atelier Missor can secure the necessary funding and governmental permissions to proceed with construction. Given the 2026 deadline and the complexity of international construction projects on American soil, completing the statue in time for the anniversary celebrations presents significant logistical challenges. The success of this ambitious tribute will depend on navigating visa requirements, construction permits, and the practical realities of building what would become a new landmark in American commemorative architecture.
