Did the Statue of Liberty used to be yellow?

But did you know she wasn't always that color? When France gifted Lady Liberty to the United States, she was a 305-foot statue with reddish-brown copper skin. See how this statue transitioned from penny red to chocolate brown to glorious liberty green in this Reactions video, just in time for Independence Day.



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The Statue of Liberty's exterior is made of copper, and it turned that shade of green because of oxidation. Copper is a noble metal, which means that it does not react readily with other substances.

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The Statue of Liberty is just one of the iconic landmarks in New York City. It's made of copper, which has oxidised naturally to form a green patina coating which actually protects the copper underneath. It took about 20 years for the Statue of Liberty to change from copper coloured to green!

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It's made of copper, which has oxidised naturally to form a green patina coating which actually protects the copper underneath. It took about 20 years for the Statue of Liberty to change from copper coloured to green!

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The Statue of Liberty has stayed this color for over a hundred years because all the exposed copper is now oxidized: she's stable at this point of her life.

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That patina shields the statue from the extreme elements of New York Harbor, like high winds, salt water and air pollution. Cleaning the green patina from the Statue of Liberty could do more harm than good, according to National Park Service spokesman Jerry Willis in a statement to AM New York.

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An illustration of the presentation of the Statue to the U.S. Minister Levi Parsons Morton in Paris on July 4, 1881. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people commemorating the alliance of France and the United States during the American Revolution.

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Since the Statue of Liberty was so close to Black Tom Island, the shrapnel from the explosion ended up damaging the torch, made of copper and glass. The damage was so severe that to this day, tourists are not permitted to climb into the torch.

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Standing proud, exposed to the elements, the statue has to withstand around 600 lightning bolts every year and, in high winds, the torch can sway by about 5 inches side-to-side!

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Answer and Explanation: The Statue of Liberty does not receive regular cleaning maintenance, because in the past those efforts have proved to be more damaging than natural weathering and age.

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Originally Answered: Why isn't the Statue of Liberty restored to it's original copper color? The green color, a patina or discoloration acquired over time by exposure to rain and salt spray from the ocean, will not be removed because to do so would weaken the copper of which the statue is made.

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The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World), a colossal sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, underwent an extensive conservation-restoration between 1984 and 1986, in advance of its centennial.

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The Statue's shackles and feet. In 1886, The Statue of Liberty was a symbol of democratic government and Enlightenment ideals as well as a celebration of the Union's victory in the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

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Water fountains are located in the lobby of the Statue of Liberty near the restrooms. Speaking of restrooms, the lobby facilities are the only ones located inside as well. So plan accordingly before you climb!

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The truss in statue's right shoulder had seriously weakened and was in danger of collapse. And almost half of the iron armature that supports the copper skin had corroded, in part because the statue had become, in effect, a giant battery.

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With 31 tons of copper and 125 tons of steel, the scrap value of the Statue of Liberty comes in at $227,610, far below two of the most expensive statues in the world. But that's what happens when you use millions worth of gold and bronze.

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The Statue of Liberty is not solid copper. The statue's frame was constructed with puddled iron. Four iron legs support the pylon, or the skeleton of the statue, with nine horizontal support struts and diagonal braces.

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Answer and Explanation: There are two genuine statues and several lesser versions of the Statue of Liberty. The original and most famous is the one located on Liberty Island, a gift from the French to America. The second is located in Paris, France, and was a reciprocal gift from the United States in 1889.

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