The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of New York, was not always green. Originally gifted from France in 1885, she had a shiny copper color. However, a video unveils the chemical reactions, including the influence of oxygen and air pollution, that caused her transformation into the iconic Liberty Green.
Brief History of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, an iconic neo-classical sculpture symbolizing freedom, was designed by Frederic Bartholdi and gifted by France to the United States in celebration of its independence.
According to the Statue of Liberty Tickets website, it was erected in 1886 on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay, the statue was inspired by a remark made by politician édouard René de Laboulaye, envisioning a collaborative effort between the two nations to create a monument honoring American independence.
Funding for the construction of the Statue of Liberty was raised through various campaigns in both France and the US. In France, public fees, entertainment events, and a national lottery contributed to the finances, while in the US, auctions, entertainment shows, and passionate appeals by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer aimed to capture the attention of the American people and solicit their support for this impressive New York attraction.
After nine years of construction, the statue, composed of copper skin sections on an iron skeleton, was transported in parts aboard the French steamer ship 'Isere' and arrived at the New York port in June 1885. The pedestal, necessary to support the statue, was completed in April 1886, and the statue was assembled soon after.
On October 28, 1886, a dedication ceremony marked the official presentation of the statue, standing at a height of 151 feet (46 meters), or 305 feet (93 meters) when including the pedestal.
Since its completion, the Statue of Liberty has become a prominent landmark and has been featured in various Hollywood films, such as "Independence Day," "Cloverfield," "The Day After Tomorrow," and "Planet of the Apes."
Statue of Liberty Original Color: From Copper to Green
An article in The New Yorker explained that the Statue of Liberty, with its exterior made of copper, acquired its distinctive green color due to oxidation. Copper, being a noble metal, does not readily react with other substances. The copper used for the statue is exceptionally pure and only about three-thirty-seconds of an inch thick.Pierre-Eugène Secrétan, a copper magnate, donated most of the copper for the sculpture, which amounted to approximately a hundred tons. It is believed that Secrétan sourced the copper from a mine in which he had a stake, located on an island off the coast of Norway. However, he faced financial ruin during the copper crash of 1889.
When the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in 1886, its color resembled that of a penny, a shade of brown. Over time, oxidation caused a green patina to develop on its surface, a thin layer that forms on copper and bronze. This oxidation layer acts as a protective coating, preserving the metal for centuries or even millennia, as evidenced by ancient objects.
When the Statue of Liberty gradually turned green, authorities deliberated on how to address the change. At the time, the Army was responsible for the Statue as it was situated on Bedloe's Island, an active military base.
In 1906, New York newspapers reported that the Statue would soon be painted. However, no painting took place in 1906 or at any point thereafter. Despite various interior and exterior rehabilitation efforts, along with occasional discussions of painting over or polishing off the patina, the Statue has retained its unique and irreplaceable color.
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