Happy 125th Birthday, Statue of Liberty! The Statue of Liberty. She is a symbol of freedom, an icon of New York City, and today is her birthday. In honor to celebrate, I’d like to share some images from an article from the August 14th, 1886 Scientific American that highlighted the methods of assembling Lady Liberty. After all, what’s birth without a gestation period?
While still in France, the statue’s shell was assembled and each piece was assigned a number or figure. Pieces that lined up next to each other had identical figures on sides which needed to fit together, creating a reassembly map. Each piece had a row of small holes on its edges, and when adjacent pieces lined up, their holes coincided so they could be riveted together.
The shell of the statue is made of very thin copper, making it somewhat pliable. When the pieces left France, they were tightly packed in wooden frames to prevent them from bending. However, some distortion inevitably occurred and once the pieces arrived, the laborers –with a lot of skill and patience—had to refit each piece. Iron bars were fitted to line the interior to give the shell extra strength and rigidity. The bars were bent to fit the contours of the copper, as seen in the close up of the face’s interior. Copper and iron were insulated from each other by a layer of shellac and asbestos in order to prevent and chemical reactions happening between the two metals.
The statue is braced by 2 systems of heavy girders, embedded deep into the pedestal, and 4 eye beams that connect the girders. The concrete foundation, which the article reported as “easily the largest single block of artificial stone in the world,” measured 90 feet square at the base, 65 feet square at the top, and 52 feet 10 inches in height.
The original date of the statue’s unveiling was set for September 3, 1886. However, all the intricate work needed to reassemble and erect the statue delayed the ceremony until October 28, 1886—which makes today the Statue of Liberty’s 125 Birthday! —Mary Karmelek
Visitors can now experience a special insider's view of the engineering marvel that is the Statue of Liberty, who celebrates her 125th anniversary October 28, 2011. To better understand this monumental work of art, visitors can view inside the Statue through a glass ceiling, guided by a park ranger, an enhanced lighting and new video system. In addition, visitors can enjoy walking out onto the Statue's observation deck to see the panoramic views of New York City and the Harbor, and witness the Statue up close from her promenades on Ft. Wood.
The Crown is open to visitors, but Crown Tickets, which include Pedestal/Museum Access, are required. More information about the entering the Crown is available on the website of the National Park Service. Crown tickets are sold out through the rest of 2011.
The famous "Liberty Bike" built by Orange County Choppers and featured on the popular Discovery Channel / TLC television series "American Chopper" will be on exhibit throughout 2011 in celebration of Lady Liberty's 125th Anniversary Year. Housed in a spectacular outdoor display on Liberty Island, this special motorcycle was commissioned by Gold Leaf Corporation and is entirely plated in copper that was preserved from the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty National Monument through an exclusive agreement with The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation
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