Why is the Statue of Liberty Green?

The Statue of Liberty is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Standing tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, this iconic landmark attracts millions of visitors every year. But have you ever wondered why Lady Liberty is green in color? Let’s dive into the history and science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

The Origins of the Statue of Liberty

The idea for the Statue of Liberty came from a French political thinker and activist, Édouard de Laboulaye. He proposed the idea of a monument to honor the United States’ independence and democracy. French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design and construct the statue. It was gifted to the United States by France in 1886 and has since become a symbol of hope and opportunity for immigrants arriving on American shores.

The Material and Construction

The entire statue was constructed in France and then shipped to the United States in 350 individual pieces. The framework, or skeleton, of the statue is made of iron beams, while the exterior is made of copper sheets. When the statue was first gifted, it had a shiny, copper color. So, how did it turn green?

The Green Color Mystery Unraveled

The initial copper color was a result of the material’s high copper content. However, around 20 years after its installation, the statue started to show signs of green coloring. The first theory was that the sea salt air from the harbor caused the copper to oxidize and turn green over time. However, this theory was disputed when it was observed that only the exterior of the statue turned green, while the internal copper remained shiny.

The true reason for the Statue of Liberty’s green color was discovered by a chemist, Dr. Gustave Eiffel (yes, the same man who designed the Eiffel Tower). In 1911, he discovered that the green color was actually a result of a patina, or a thin layer of copper carbonate, that had formed on the surface over time. This was a result of the copper reacting with air and water. The patina not only gave the statue its iconic green color but also acted as a protective layer, preventing further corrosion of the copper.

Maintaining the Green Color

Despite the patina’s protective properties, the National Park Service has conducted maintenance and restoration work on the Statue of Liberty to preserve its iconic green color. In the 1980s, a major restoration project was undertaken, where the entire statue was covered in scaffolding and repainted, using a special copper paint that would eventually turn green over time.

Currently, the statue’s green color is maintained through regular cleaning and the application of a specially-formulated wax coating.

In Conclusion

The Statue of Liberty’s green color is a result of a natural process that has occurred over time. It is a symbol of the statue’s enduring legacy and the enduring legacy of democracy and freedom that it represents.

For more interesting facts and stories about iconic landmarks, be sure to check out our site whyisexplained.com. You can also explore other questions and answers on our site to satisfy your curious mind.

National Park Service – Story Behind the Statue
BBC News – Lady Liberty’s Changing Colors

Interested in learning about other iconic landmarks? Check out our question on why the Eiffel Tower is shaped like a needle.
Or, if you want to know why the Great Wall of China is so long, we’ve got you covered too.