PORT SAID founded in 1859 by Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal.  By the late 19th century, it was and still an important port where all the major maritime powers had consulates.  The City was damaged during the Suez Crisis, and again during the wars of 1967 and 1973, but the city has largely been rebuilt and today is a pleasant city of 400,00 people.  It is also considered a summer resort by Egyptians and the beach is lined with vacation bungalows and Hotels . The main streets, with most commercial enterprises, is Sharia Palestine. Gemhoria street / then Togary and Hamidy streets, There is also a Military Museum located on Sharia 23rd of July. Along with some small displays of pharaonic and Islamic wars are artifacts from the Suez Crises and the 1967 and 1973 wars.

what does New York and Port Said, Egypt have in common?  Originally, American's very own statue of Liberty was to be placed not in New York but at Port Said.  The Statue of Liberty was really inspired by the huge statues at Abu Simbel.  Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the statue designed the American Lady of Liberty as 'Egypt carrying the light of Asia'.  However, the Khedive Ismail decided that the project was too expensive, so the 'Light of Asia' was sent to the US instead, where she became the Statue of Liberty.