Statue of Liberty eTour—Basic Version Statue of Liberty. David Restivo, NPS photo. ← 4 of 18 → The Malleable Metal Copper is the natural resource that comes to mind when people think about the Statue of Liberty. The statue’s “skin” is made from copper like that of a United States penny. Copper is strong, lightweight and easily shaped – ideal characteristics for a 305 foot 1 inch statue. The copper surface is 3/32 of an inch (2.37mm) thick -- the thickness of two pennies put together. In other words the statue is quite thin. The appearance of the statue has changed over the years from brown when it was erected to the green it is today due her exposure to air and water. Over time the copper reacts, forming a layer of patina. This natural reaction is why the statue is green. Even though the statue is thin, it took a lot of copper to make a 305 foot 1 inch statue, 62,000 pounds (28.12 metric tons) to be exact. Where did all that copper come from?

A 1985 analysis revealed a match to the copper from the Vigsnes mine off the coast of Norway. On the outer walkway of Liberty Island you can see a 500 pound (.23 metric ton) rock. This is a piece of copper ore from the mine that was donated by the Norwegian government to tell the story of the Statue’s best known natural resource. Why is the Statue of Liberty Green? · How Tall is the Statue of Liberty? History of the Statue of Liberty Why is the Statue of Liberty green? The Statue of Liberty is coated with a thin layer of copper, which turns a blue-green with age due to chemical reactions between metal and water. This process is known as patination and occurs with most copper when it’s placed outside. The true color of the Statue of Liberty before patination was a shiny reddish brown color. The photo to the right shows a replica of the statue and what the Statue of Liberty’s original color would look like. What is the Statue of Liberty made of? The Statue of Liberty is made of an iron frame with a sheet of pure copper hung over it. The torch flame is so bright because it is coated in gold leaf instead of copper.

However, it wasn’t always that way—the flame, too, was originally coated in copper. During renovations to the statue in 1916, Gutzon Borglum, the man who sculpted Mount Rushmore , was appointed to cut away much of the copper surface of the torch’s flame and install glass windows. Snow and rain leaked in through the windows, aiding in corrosion. In the mid-1980s (the statue’s 100th birthday), the old torch was removed due to excessive damage and placed in the monument’s museum. The replacement torch is now covered with gold leaf. Did you know the Statue of Liberty was a lighthouse? That’s right, until the restoration of 1986, the torch acted as a lighthouse for ships coming into New York Harbor. The Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse to use electric lamps. The government had to reserve a whole energy plant just to power the statue!

© 2009 How Tall Is The Statue Of Liberty - Contact Education: Statue of Liberty: Reclothing the First Lady of Metals - Repair Concerns Repair Concerns Reclothed Lady Reclothing the First Lady of Metals - Repair Concerns For the first hundred years, Lady Liberty stood proud and tall, but not without those who wanted to reclothe her … prematurely. In 1906, for example, Congress appropriated $62,000 to paint her. Why? Because some politicians were distressed that she had turned green. This brought about a bit of outrage. Newspaper reports at the time said this would be "sacrilege." One of them quoted Joseph Mitchell of the John Williams Company as saying: "Copper can't rust. Removing the patina would be vandalism for which there would be no excuse." Statue of Liberty with Fully Developed Patination Fortunately, the plan failed. At the turn of the century, it took longer to form the color we see today's New York air, it would take about 10 years to achieve, but at the turn of the century, it was nearly 25 years before the patina was full-blown.

And, America loved the blue-green look of the Lady. In fact, in a 1925 editorial, the New York Sun said: "Salt air has given 'Miss Liberty' her present sea-green complexion, so often remarked from passing liners. Deep-sea winds brawling up the Narrows from Sandy Hook have oxidized her copper and provided a weatherproof coating, which, her custodians say, will make her last forever … or as long as stone and metal hold together." However, in 1937, on the 50th anniversary of the statue, there would have to be repairs made to the stone. Water had been seeping into the pedestal. As a result, the WPA constructed a 250-foot copper apron (a kind of cap flashing) over the pedestal. As the maintenance manager said at the time: "In the future, Miss Liberty's feet will be kept dry with this protective coating." Statue Base with the Added Apron Now as her first centennial approached, there were about a dozen reasons why our First Lady of Metals needed to be reclothed. They included considerations for visitors' access and comfort, safety, appearance, and, of course, needed repairs.

The most important of the repairs related to corrosion and included: The interior of copper skin. Weakening of support structure for the arm holding the torch. Deterioration of the torch, itself. Corrosion of the iron armature, and in particular, where it was attached to the copper skin. And, the exterior copper skin. Skeleton with Call-outs for Repair Items In 1984, Peter Dessauer, the historical architect for the National Park Service who led the restoration project, said, that "despite deterioration of other metals, the copper skin of the Statue of Liberty has remained virtually intact." But repairs were needed. The interior of the copper shell and the iron armature had received several layers of protective coatings over the years, including coal tar, aluminum and lead. Those coatings deteriorated and peeled, providing pockets where moisture was trapped and corrosion could occur. Detail of Interior Corrosion To strip away the old coatings (an estimated 10 layers), the surfaces were first broken down with liquid nitrogen at minus 350ºF, and then blasted at 50 psi with 100 tons of coarse-grain sodium bicarbonate. The method left no corrosive by-product.

However, because sodium bicarb attracts water, dryers in the compressor and at the nozzle were required. The newly cleaned surfaces were finally treated with benzotriazole to help prevent further crevice corrosion. Interior Repair with Liquid Nitrogen The puddled-iron was blasted with an aluminum oxide abrasive, after which an inorganic water-based zinc primer was applied as a rust inhibitor. That was followed by a polyurethane top coat to provide graffiti protection. Blasted with Aluminum Oxide Why Is the Statue Of Liberty Green? | Wonderopolis Wonder of the Day #257 Why Is the Statue Of Liberty Green? Why is the Statue of Liberty green? What is a patina? Who designed the support structure for the Statue of Liberty? Tags: Listen During the Revolutionary War, France became a close friend of Americans seeking freedom from Great Britain. To honor its friendship with America, France gave the U.S. a special gift: sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi's beautiful statue called Liberty Enlightening the World. The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor on June 19, 1885. It came in 350 pieces packed into 214 crates.

The statue was assembled on a pedestal base built by the United States. The 151-foot tall statue has become a worldwide symbol of freedom and democracy . The Statue of Liberty 's home is Bedloe's Island (renamed Liberty Island in 1956). From 1892 to 1943, “Lady Liberty " greeted over 12 million immigrants as they arrived on boats at the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Station. The pedestal of the statue features words from poet Emma Lazarus that reflect immigrants' hopes and dreams for freedom in America: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. The statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom . She holds a torch in one hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence in the other. Built in France, the statue is made of hundreds of thin copper sheets assembled on a frame of steel supports. The inner framework was engineered and designed by Gustave Eiffel. He later used the same design on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Eiffel's design allows the Statue of Liberty to move with changes in temperature and wind speed. It also allowed staircases to be built on the inside of the statue . Visitors can climb to an observation deck inside the crown. The outer layer of the statue is copper that's only 3/32 of an inch thick — the thickness of two pennies put together. Despite how thin it is, the copper is strong. The amount of copper in the Statue of Liberty could make 30 million pennies! When the statue was originally assembled, it was a dull brown color , reflecting the natural color of its copper plates. Over the next 30 years, though, it slowly turned to the green color you see today. What happened? Was it magic? Nope! It was science. A natural weathering process — called oxidation — took place when air and water reacted with the copper plates. Over time, the weathering of the copper created a thin layer of copper carbonate called a patina . Although some people were worried that the changing color of the statue meant it was decaying, the patina actually protects the copper underneath from further corrosion .

Here are a few interesting facts about “Lady Liberty " you might not have known: The statue alone stands 151 feet tall. The pedestal stands 154 feet tall, making the top of the torch 305 feet above ground level. The statue contains 62,000 pounds of copper and 250,000 pounds of steel. The concrete pedestal weighs 54 million pounds. Winds of 50 miles per hour can cause the statue to sway up to 3 inches and the torch up to 6 inches. The 7 points of the crown represent the seven seas and the seven continents. Wonder Contributors Wonder What's Next? Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is brought to you by the letters A, B, and O! Try It Out Ready to get up close and personal with Lady Liberty? Get some adventurous friends and family members to help you explore one or more of the following activities: You don't have to go to New York to get up close and personal with Lady Liberty. Just head on over to the National Park Service site to take a virtual tour of the Statue of Liberty ! The engineering that went into the Statue of Liberty is very impressive.

To see some rare photos of the inside and outside of the Statue of Liberty, just jump online and head over to National Geographic's Statue of Liberty Pictures page. Which pictures are your favorites? What impresses you the most? Why? Up for a challenge? Grab some old pennies and a few common kitchen ingredients and have some Chemistry Fun with Pennies ! With a bit of vinegar and salt, you can see with your own eyes why the Statue of Liberty turned green. Wonder Sources Frequently Asked Questions - Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) Frequently Asked Questions May I Visit … ... the crown or the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty? Tickets to the crown and pedestal are limited, so plan your visit today! ... the museum on Liberty Island? The museum is located inside the base of the Statue of Liberty and is only accessible to visitors who have pedestal or crown tickets. ... the Ellis Island Immigration Museum? Yes. Artifacts, documents, and other historic items are available throughout the exhibits and within the research library. Visitors can see many of the historic rooms that immigrants would have passed through. A guided tour of the Contagious Disease Ward is available by reservation only. Learn how to plan your visit to Ellis Island.

… any inside area of the Statue of Liberty? Pedestal or crown tickets are required. Check for available dates and times. … the Crown? Those wishing to visit the Crown must be able to walk stairs, including a narrow spiral staircase inside the Statue's body. Crown tickets are available ONLY by advanced reservation . … the Torch? No. The Torch has been closed to the public since the "Black Tom" explosion on July 30, 1916. … the Fort? To access the top of Fort Wood, visitors must have pedestal or crown tickets. Are there storage facilities at Liberty Island? Yes, for those visitors heading to the crown or pedestal. "Grounds Only" ticket holders must keep all of their items with them at all times. If I'm using a car to get to the ferry, is parking available? Ferries depart from Battery Park in New York City and from Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ. Although private parking garages may be available to you in NY, parking is usually very limited and will be expensive. There is ample car and bus parking at the ferry area in Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and parking fees are nominal compared to parking in New York City.

Plan Your Visit to the Statue of Liberty Do I need to buy a ticket to visit the island? Yes, tickets are needed to board the ferry. Statue Cruises is the only authorized concession for the park. I have a question about my ticket purchase. Who should I contact? Statue Cruises is the ferry operator. May I purchase a ticket for the inside of the Statue of Liberty? Advanced reservations for the inside of the Statue of Liberty are currently available at . What are my food options? Contact our food concessionaire, Evelyn Hill, Inc. , located on Liberty and Ellis Islands or you can bring your own. (Large coolers will not be allowed through security screening.) Are pets allowed in the park? No, pets are not permitted on the ferry system or in the park itself. Documented service/assist animals are exempt from this regulation. May I have a special event on the island? Some activities require a permit. For more information, visit our Permits page. May I dock my personal vessel at the island? No. Docking of private vessels is not permitted. All visits to the island must be through Statue Cruises, the official transportation concessionaire. May I use my National Park Pass when visiting this park? No.

National Park passes are valid at parks that charge an entrance fee. Liberty and Ellis Islands are fee-exempt by law. The cost of the ferry ticket is not an entrance fee. Tickets cover the cost of transportation. Can I get a reserved tour? Ranger-guided tours are offered to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. Program listings are posted each day at the Liberty Island Information Center and frequency is dependent upon daily staffing levels. About the Statue of Liberty What materials make up the Statue of Liberty? The Statue of Liberty is made of copper 3/32in. (about 2.5mm) thick, the same as two American pennies placed together. The internal structure is comprised of cast iron and stainless steel. Why is the Statue green? The Statue's copper has naturally oxidized to form the outer patina, or green, coating. Upon completion in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was more of a traditional brown color, like an American penny. It took about thirty years for the Statue of Liberty to fully oxidize and form the patina. How tall is the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue is 305 feet, 1 inch (about 93m) from the ground to the tip of the flame. It is the equivalent height of a 22-story building and was the tallest structure in New York in 1886. See more Statue Statistics . Why is the Statue of Liberty a woman? Classical images of Liberty are often depicted in a female form. The Statue of Liberty was modeled after the Roman Goddess of Liberty. Which direction does the Statue face? The Statue of Liberty was placed inside the existing Fort Wood and faces southeast. The Statue's position makes it a welcoming symbol for arriving ships. Does the Statue of Liberty ever get struck by lightning? Yes! As one of the tallest structures in the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty does get struck by lightning. The Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite pedestal. How many Torches have there been on the Statue? The Statue's current torch, added in 1986, is a copper flame covered in 24K gold. It is reflective of the sun's rays in daytime and lighted by floodlights at night.

The original torch was removed in 1984 and is now a display piece inside the Pedestal lobby. Symbols on the Statue of Liberty What does the torch represent? The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue's official name represents its most important symbol, "Liberty Enlightening the World." What is written on the Statue's tablet? The tablet in the Statue's left hand has the date of American Independence: July 4, 1776. The date is written in Roman numerals and reads July IV MDCCLXXVI. What does the Statue wear on her head? The Statue of Liberty wears a crown, or diadem. What are the spikes on the crown? Many believe the seven spikes are symbolism representing rays of light radiating from the statue's head; she is the Roman goddess Libertas. Where on the Statue are the broken chains located and what do the chains mean? The broken chains are near the Statue's feet and are not visible from the ground level. Many believe the chains represent breaking free from tyranny and servitude. Keep in Contact with the Statue of Liberty... What do I do if I lost something at Liberty Island?

If you are still at Liberty, go to the Information Center and ask the ranger if your item was turned in. If it wasn't, you can fill out a Lost and Found report so your item can be returned to you if it is turned in after you leave. If you discover your loss after you leave the park, you can still make a report . How can I contact the park? For more information to contact the park please visit our Contact Us page. Does the Statue of Liberty have a Facebook page? Yes! Our Facebook username is StatueLibrtyNPS . Is Liberty Island on Twitter ? Yes! Visit us on Twitter by following @StatueEllisNPS . Is Liberty Island on Instagram? Yes! Visit us on Instagram by following @StatueEllisNPS Where are the Statue webcams located? Five camera are located on the Statue's torch balcony. One camera points up at the gold flame. A second camera looks down at the Statue's crown and body. Three more camera point towards the new York Harbor, providing sweeping views of the city. Out webcames are avaiable under our Photos and Multimedia page. Statue of Liberty Geography Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey?

The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, federal property administered by the National Park Service, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York. Is the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? No. The park is comprised of two separate islands, Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island. Ellis Island, the former federal immigration station, is currently a national museum of immigration. Is Liberty Island a man-made island? Liberty Island has received some landfill on its western shore for administrative and maintenance purposes. However, the land directly under and around the Statue of Liberty is natural. Learn about the Island's original usage by going to our History and Culture page. Statue of Liberty - Materials Engineering - Purdue University Materials Engineering M. Thomas The people of France gave the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States over one hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Over the years, the Statue of Liberty has grown to include freedom and democracy as well as this international friendship. Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture. The statue was a combined effort of both America and France.

It was agreed that America would build the base, and France would build the statue and assemble it here in the United States. Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address structural issues associated with a huge copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (see reference to Eiffel Tower) was hired to design the massive iron pylon and the skeletal framework. One of the tricks in the design of the statue was allowing for thermal expansion in the copper. When a material goes through temperature changes, the dimensions change. The skeletal framework allows the copper shell to move independently yet stand upright. Another problem was what to make the inside skeletal framework. Bronze and stone were thrown out due to the fact that the statue must be shipped and these materials were too heavy. It was decided that steel would be used due to its light weight in comparison with bronze and stone. A technique called repousse, which is a technique for creating sculptural forms by hammering sheet metal inside molds was used to make the framework. Lighter than cast metal, repousse was the only method available that would allow for such a monumental work to be shipped overseas.

The Statue of Liberty stands 305 feet tall, and used 31 tons of copper and 125 tons of steel. Winds of 50 miles per hour cause the statue to sway 3 inches and the torch to sway 5 inches. About Us Education: Statue of Liberty: From Concept to Construction to Installation - Facts & Figures Facts & Figures From Concept to Construction to Installation - Facts & Figures In 1886, Miss Liberty was: Tallest iron structure ever erected. Largest concrete pour ever made. Used one of the first passenger elevators. And, contained one of the first indoor lighting systems ever installed. Significantly, it was the largest use of copper in a single structure at that time. Okay, now without embarrassment, let's take a close look at the First Lady's figure: Height: 151' 5" (on a 154' base) Weight: 450,000 pounds Eye set: 2' 6" (dist. between eyes) Ear set: 10' (dist.

between ears) Nose: 4' 6" Finger: 8' (index) And, oh yes, … her bust is a perfect 36 … feet. To support his colossal sculpture, Bartholdi called upon the structural engineering skills of Gustave Eiffel, who designed the skeleton for its skin of copper. This was sort of a trial run for Eiffel's Tower, which was to come about five years later. Gustave Eiffel The Lady's skeleton is made from about 250,000 lbs of puddled iron. It's spine is a pylon containing a double-helix stairwell. Four legs support the pylon, each connected by nine levels of horizontal struts and diagonal cross braces. Framework: 250,000 lbs; 1,800 puddled-iron bars (framework and armature) There is also a secondary frame, or armature, that conforms to the outer contour of the statue. The armature consists of about a mile's worth of puddled-iron bars, more than 1300 of them, 2" wide by 5/8" thick and weighing about 20 lbs each.

Armature: 1,350 puddled-iron bars; 4' x 2" x 5/8"; 20 lbs, each Some 80 tons of copper sheet, originally about a quarter-inch thick, were cut into 300 odd pieces and then hand hammered - a process called repoussé. The hammering reduced them to about 3/32nds of an inch thick. Skin: 300 sheets of copper; ~3/32" thick; 160,000 lbs Now, here's where the neat part comes in. The copper skin sections are attached to the armature by 1500 U-shaped copper saddles, using some 300,000 copper rivets. Now, Eiffel knew about Galvanic corrosion between the dissimilar metals - copper and steel. The first consideration, apparently, was to let the American's worry about that when it happens. That was quickly followed by discussion of using a red-lead barrier and cloth-covered copper plates that would go between the copper skin and the iron armature.

Saddles: 1,500, copper; Rivets: 300,000 copper Ultimately, it was the Americans who came up with the barrier system finally used when the stature was reassembled. They isolated the junction of the copper and iron with a layer of shellac-impregnated asbestos cloth. The saddle design was ingenious. Copper and Iron expand and contract at different rates. So, the free movement of the separate metals allowed them to accommodate the changes in temperature as well as other weather conditions. Saddle Detail Statue of Liberty construction Statue of Liberty Construction The creator of the Statue of Liberty, Frï¿½dï¿½ric-Auguste Bartholdi , thought well beyond the image of what would be the world's tallest monument. He considered such practical matters as how to support 100 tons of copper plate and how to make the 151-ft-tall statue able to withstand the forceful winds of New York Bay . However, for the solution to these problems he turned to Gustave Eiffel, the engineer famous for his innovative bridge designs who would subsequently build the Eiffel Tower . Eiffel anticipated skyscraper construction when he designed the Statue of Liberty's supporting frame.

He produced a 94-ft-high wrought-iron square skeleton whose chief structural members are four posts that work in compression. The skeleton supports a secondary iron frame that, in turn, carries a system of flat wrought iron bars. These members carry the copper plates that form the statue's exterior skin. Extending from the main frame are a smaller frame supporting the head and a slim 47-ft, 7-in. skeleton carrying the arm that holds the torch. The frame is braced with diagonal members and was designed to withstand a wind load of 58 psf. In a 50-mph wind, the monument moves 3 in. In Egypt, at twenty, Bartholdi had gazed with deep emotion upon the colossal, centuries-old "granite beings, in their imperturbable majesty ... whose kindly and impassible glance seems to disregard the present and to be fixed upon the unlimited future." He said that he learned then that the treatment of a colossal statue must be entirely different from that of heroic, life-size, or smaller sculpture. "The details of the lines ought not to arrest the eye ... the surfaces should be broad and simple, defined by a bold and clear design, accentuated in the important places ...

it should have a summarized character such as one would give to a rapid sketch." Starting with the 1.25-meter model, a complete statue 2.85 meters high was built, followed by another four times as high, this latter being about one-fourth the size of the completed masterpiece. At each stage, the sculptor made changes in order to conform to the principle of the utmost simplicity in the final work. Bartholdi's final modifications in design had to be made in the one-fourth-size model of plaster supported by its wooden frame. No further changes were possible. The statue was divided into about 300 sections, and each section enlarged to four times its size by the painstaking, mathematical process of "pointing up," in this case involving many thousands of measurements and as many verifications. Against the plaster surface of each of these enlarged sections was built and fitted precisely a stout mould of laminated wood. Into each wooden mould, a sheet (one square meter or larger) of virgin copper, 2.5 milli- meters or about one-tenth of an inch in thickness, was pressed by means of rammers, levers, and mallets large and small.

In the case of complicated shapes, the copper had to be heated. Wrought iron bands and rods gave rigidity to each of the copper sections, which were feather-edged and held together with one-fifth-inch flush- headed copper rivets. The "noble rust," as Italians call it, which gives copper and bronze so beautiful a surface color, has covered the Statue of Liberty with a malachite green that does not disintegrate the metal as rust devours iron. Galvanic action was avoided by insulation between all iron and copper parts. (This now consists of asbestos, soaked in shellac.) Folds of the statue's drapery gave ample opportunity for expansion or contraction of the copper re- sulting from changes in temperature. Lightning is conducted by copper rods into the earth. The sheathing of the statue is made up of 3/32-in. copper plates. In Paris, Bartholdi constructed full-scale plaster models of all parts of the statue. From these, large wooden molds were made of the statue's surface. Using the repousse method, copper sheets were hammered within these molds to reproduce the statue's contours on the the plates. In all, 350 plates make up the statue's surface.

Two inch-wide straps of iron were forged to fit inside each plate. Although the copper plates overlap and are riveted to each other, they are supported entirely by these iron bars. The bars are angled upward at about 60ï¿½ and act like springs. The design allows the skin to bend without being damaged by high winds or extreme fluctuations in temperature. Bartholdi assembled the statue in Paris, using temporary rivets to link the copper plates. Then it was disassembled and shipped in 210 crates to New York in 1885. On Bedloe's (now Liberty) Island in New York Bay, an 89-ft-high granite-faced reinforced concrete pedestal was built--one of the first instances of the large-scale use of reinforced concrete. The statue was reassembled on the pedestal without any exterior scaffolding. As the framework rose, the workmen attached the copper skin with 300,000 copper rivets in precisely drilled holes. The 150-foot pedestal was designed by Richard M. Hunt and built by Gen. Charles P. Stone, both Americans. It contains steel underpinnings designed by Alexander Eiffel of France to support the statue.

The $270,000 cost was borne by popular subscription in this country. President Grover Cleveland accepted the statue for the United States on Oct. 28, 1886. On Sept. 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon dedicated the American Museum of Immigration, housed in structural additions to the base of the statue. In 1984 scaffolding went up for a major restoration and the torch was extinguished on July 4. It was relit with much ceremony July 4, 1986 to mark its centennial. The Statue of liberty The Statue of liberty Started by amirthanathan on Friday, November 5, 2010 Participants: THE STATUE OF LIBERTY A Feet in Engineering. The statue of Liberty situated in New York harbor in USA, welcoming immigrants to the country is one of the marvels of the world. This wonderful Statue is Beautiful work of art and, at the same time, an excellent piece of engineering. The enormous size and the severe design condition called for innovation in engineering. There was another all- prevailing factor. The Statue was to be made in Paris but to installed in the New York harbuor.

The statue had to be transported over some 3000 miles (4800km) across the Atlantic Ocean. The design, the making the transportation, and the re-assembly and all engineering feats. Why was the statue huge in the first place?. About that a litter later, but first get the perception of the size and the work. Look at the details below. They tell us of the tremendous efforts and ingenuity in engineering and in making the statue.

ENGIONEERING DETAILS Height form base to the top of the touch : 151 ft 1inch Foundation of pedestal to touch: 305ft 1inch. Length of hand: 16ft 5inch. Index finger: 8ft. Size of fingemail: 13ft x 10 ft. Wind spread at whick statue sways 3 inches : 50mph ( 80km/h) Torch away in 50mph (80km/h) wind: 5inches. Weight of copper used in statue: 200,000pounds (90tonnes) Wight of steel used in statue: 250,000pounds (114tonnes) Total weight of statue: 450,000pounds (204tonnes) Wight of concrete in the foundation: 24,000tons ( 22,000tonnes) the largest single mass ever poured till then. Foundation Height

: 52ft 10inches. Foundation measurement .

Bottom – 91 feet square; Top: - 65 feet square. Height of pedestal: 89ft above the foundation. Thickness of copper sheeting: 3/32inch(2.37mm) Approximate fabric in the dress: 4,000sq. yards(3340 sq. m ) THE ENGINEERS AND THE ARTISTS: Who were the genial of engineers and art to make this wonder? The Statue was conceives and sculpted by: August Bartholdi The structural was Alexander-Gustavo Eiffel who was already known for this brilliant iron railroad bridges at the time and who later designed the famous Eiffel Tower of Paris. Alexader- gustave Eiffel designed the intricate skeleton for the statue. The Architect of the pedestal : Richard M. Hunt. The chief Project Engineer : General Charles P.Stone. General Charles was in charge of the conatructionm peoject including the foundation, the pedestal, and the reassembly. METHOD OF FABRICATION: The material of construction was an important consideration.

Stone and bonze were discounted because of their weight. Besides, the use of the stone and bronze would mean higher expenses. The statue was fabricated using copper sheets. The thickness of the sheet was 2.37mm. The method of fabrication was what is called the ‘ Repousse Process’ The ‘ Repousses Process’ is a technique for creating sculptural forms. The method is to hammer a sheet metal inside moulds. The Repousse Process was the only method available then that would allow such a ‘monumental’ work to be shipped overseas. HOW DID ALL START IN THE FIRST PLACE?. In 1865, in Paris, several French intellectual had gathered at a small dinner party. These intellectuals were opposed to the oppressive regime of Napolenon iii. One of the intellectuals, Laboulaye, was the host. Laboulaye, was a scholar, a jurist and the leader of the ‘ liberals’ At that party was another bright man Frederic-August. Bartholdi was 31 at that time, but was a successful sculptor already. The ‘Liberals’ were the lolitical group that decided itself to the establishing of a French republican government.

This government would be modeled on America’s constitution. The intellectuals were discussing and admiring America’s success in establishing a democratic government and establishing slavery at the end of the Civil War. The talk turned to the close historic ties and love of liberty France and America shared. Laboulaye noted that there was “ a genuine flow sympathy” between the two nations. He called France and America “ the two sisters” . As Laboulaye continued speaking and reflected on the centennial of American independence in 1876, only 11 years in the future, he commented: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people of France gave the United States a great monument as a lasting memorial to the independence and thereby showed that the French government was also dedicated to the idea of human liberty?” Laboulaye’s question was casual, but it struck a responsive chord in Bartholdi. Years later Bartholdi wrote: “Laboulaye’s idea interested me so deeply that it remained fixed in my memory” So was sown the seed of inspiration that would turn into an all-time, world class beautiful monument in art engineering, called STATUE OF LIBERTY. WHY WASD THE STATUE CONCEIVED SO HUGE?

The state was conceived and designed by the great sculptor of his time, Bartholdi. Batholdi lived in his time. He liked art in a grand scale. He was not alone in this passion for art on a grand scale. During the 19th century, large scale public monuments were a popular art form. It was an age of display inspired by classical Greek and Roman civilizations. Most monuments reflected either the dress or architecture of those ancient times. THE GREAT SCULPTOR AND HIS MYSTERIOUS INSPIRATION? The life and work of the great sculptor is interesting and inspiring. Barthodldi was bron on August 2, 1834 in a well-to-do middle – class family on Colmar, France. Baethildi was a civil servant and prosperous landowner. The father died when Batholdi was only two years old. So bartholdi’s stem and possessive mother Charlotte raised the child. Many people believe that Chrlotte Bartholdi’s early drawings for a never-commissioned statue in Egypt. The sculptor’s true inspiration for his masterpiece remain a mystery. THE EXPEDITOR: Bartholdi drew up plans for the statue in 1867.

The statue was to be in the form of a robed female Egyptian peasant, with a light beaming out from two places: (1) a headband and (2) a torch held dramatically upward into the skies. But the project was never commissioned. In1870 with the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War, Bartholdi become a major in the French army. He was stationed in his home city of Calmar. When the Germans annexed that region and made the residents as German citizens, the reality of the world “librty” took a new, personal meaning for him. THE SITE FOR INSTALLATION: The third Republic of France was established that the statue be prohibitively expensive to produce. They decided that the cost should be shared between France and America. France would pay for the statue, America would pay for its pedestal and foundation. A fund – raising committee called the “France American Union” was formed, with members from both nations. Elaborate fund-raising events were staged. Enough was collected to begin the work on the statue, but the goal of completing it in time for American’s 100th independence anniversary ( July 4, 1878) was ompossible.

At the end of the marvelous efforts, the following dates were achieved. Construction began in France : 1875. Statue completed in France: June 1884. Statue final assembly on the pedestal in America: 1886(110th independence anniversary of America. THE DESIGN OF THE STATUE: The construction of the statue began in 1875. Barthildi selected Caget, Gauthier and company as his workshop. Its craftsman were experts in the art of Repousse. Bartholdi decided to use thin copper sheets a light and relatively flexible metal instead of casting the copper, beating the metal into shape over sculpted wooden moulds. This copper outer skin would ‘hang’ on an inner,tower-like framework of iron. The copper plates or section for the gaint hand and table were the copper sculpture. Temporary braces were put to prevent the plates from buckling and holes were then punched for the rivets which connected all the places into one great figure. Bartholdi designed and built a 36ft (11m) high plaster model. The final statue was to be more than four times taller.

The statue had to be strong enough to withstand the aggressive weather condition and yet light enough to be shipped to America. The solution was to make the statue hollow, with the outer shell support on an inner iron framework. THE MAKING OF THE STATUE: Bartholdi out of his master model into sections and made thousands of meticulous measurements before scaling up each section into full size plaster replica. Wooden moulds were then carved to exactly mach each enlarged section. The finished ‘skin’ was made through hammering of 300 thin copper sheets into the moulds. Meanwhile. The structural Engineer Alexander Gustve Eiffel was working on the interior framework, which was to be the tallest iron support structure attempted up to that time. He came up with the tremendous design. The outer shell of the Statue is non-load- bearing and flots on its frame. A framework of iron ribs radiates horizontally from a central backbone of four vertical girders that reach from the statue’s base to the nape of the neck. Attached to this is the armature, made of spring- like iron bars. The bars curve and twist to follow the shape of the statue, like the framework of a dressmaker’s dummy.

To minimize the direct and potentially corrosive contact of copper and iron, the sections of copper skin are hung on this interior skeleton. The skeleton has copper brackets covered with an insulating material to keep the two metals apart. The first rivet was driven into the statue, on October 24, 1881 by the American ambassador to France, Levi P. Morton, by December, Bartholdi wrote to his American compatriots “The statue commences to reach above the houses, and by next spring will see it overlook the entire city”. In June 1884, the statue received the final touches and French Prime Minister Jules Ferry and ambassador Morton decided the statue with much pomp. However, when Bartholdi invited the celebrating party to climb with him some 171 steps up the statue, few accepted this challenge. IN AMERICA: The statue was stored and exhibited in France till the spring of 1885. Then the statue was dismantled in 350 individual, meticulously numbered pieces for the voyage to America, in 214 enormous wooden crates. The statue was shipped aboard a Transport ship of the French frigate called “Isere”.

The statue arrived at the Beadle’s Island on June 15, 1885. The statue began to rise in May 1886. It took six months to mount the statue to the base. The final assembly of the statue and the pedestal was achieved in 1886. THE PROJECT COMPLETED: The statue was declared open and thus the project was completed on October 18, 1886. Bartholdi pulled the cord, revealing the statue’s gleaming copper face to the world. A masterpiece of engineering was now completed. THE PROJECT COMPLETED: From 1886 to 1902, the statue was maintained by the Lighthouse Board, an agency of the federal government, in conjunction with the Army and the American Committee. In 1901, the War Department assumed responsibility, making some much-needed repairs and improvements to the statue and the island. In 1916, it was decided to floodlight the statue at night. The torch was also redesigned in glass. THE INSPECTION REPORT: In the barely 1980’s the statue was given a thorough examination and it was found to be disintegrating.

Over a century of high-level exposure to the natural elements – and condensation from the breath of millions of sightseers climbing up the inside – had caused severe corrosion. In the later year, some of the rivets that had held the copper skin together had given way, allowing more moisture to seep into the vulnerable iron framework and leakage of water was observed through these gaps. The iron armature connecting the copper plates to the framework was corroded. The whole network, including the rivets, had to be renewed with modern material’s Much of Eiffel’s original asbestos insulation, the buffer between the copper skin and iron skeleton, had worn away and nearly half of the armature had become badly rusted . Nearly 1800 bars had to be completely replaced. The touch was in danger of falling off and the torch-bearing shoulder needed reinforcing The French – American Committee for the Restoration of the statue was established in 1981. Following the initial diagnostic report to be done. THE RESTORATION PROJECT AND THE SCAFFOLDING: The statue was encased in what was probably the largest freestanding scaffolding structure ever and statistics were fed into the computer to create detailed new structural plans.

French craftsman rebuilt the touch, replacing Bartholdi’s original design using the Repossess technique, and master gilders from Paris gold-leafed the flame with 24 carat gold so that it would gleam when floodlit. The skin itself was in good condition once the rivets were replaced. Over the years of copper had lost its original colour and acquired a naturally weathered, pale-green patina. When the statue was cleaned, this patina had to be carefully preserved as it formed a protective coating against corrosion. On the inner surface, seven layers of old paint that were trapping moisture in the seams had to be frozen and cracked off with sprays of liquid nitrogen cooled to (-) 163degree C . The layers of tare beneath them were blasted off with jets of sodium bicarbonate solution. “ LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD” The official title of the Statue is “Liberty Engineering the world” Yes, the Statue is engineering the world – in art and engineering. The Statue towers some 100m – that is the height of a thirty-storey building – above the water and is the largest metal statue in the world.

The Statue of Liberty represents the application of best engineering mind from two nations.

Question: What metal is the outer layer of the Statue of Liberty made from?
Answer: Copper