Statue of Liberty construction: See her like you’ve never seen her before

Construction of the Statue of Liberty and renovations

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See how our famous Statue of Liberty was originally built, from the 6-story head to the gigantic torch

It took years to complete the Statue of Liberty construction — the enormous piece of artwork also known as Liberty Enlightening the World — and it wasn’t easy!

Here are some peeks behind the scenes into how it was done, as well as close-up color photos from later repairs and renovations.

1. Workshop in Paris, showing construction materials, the head of the Statue of Liberty

Workshop in Paris, showing construction materials, the head of the Statue of Liberty


2. Construction of the skeleton and plaster surface of the left arm and hand of the Statue of Liberty

Construction of the skeleton and plaster surface of the left arm and hand - Statue of Liberty construction


3. Statue of Liberty construction in Paris

Workmen constructing the Statue of Liberty in Bartholdi’s Parisian warehouse workshop; first model; left hand; and quarter-size head (Winter 1882)

Workmen constructing the Statue of Liberty in Bartholdi's Parisian warehouse workshop


4. Head of Statue of Liberty on display in a park in Paris (1883)

From an album of the construction works of the colossal statue of Liberty, intended for the port of New York / Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
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5. Colossal hand and torch “Liberty”

The torch and part of the arm of the Statue of Liberty, on display at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Information booth at the base of the arm, and two people are seen at railing below flame of the torch.

Colossal hand and torch Liberty

 


6. Liberty Enlightening the World: The Statue of Liberty construction project

Lady Liberty’s face is seen here on Liberty Island, waiting to be installed:

Lady Liberty's face is seen here on Liberty Island, waiting to be installed


7. Statue of Liberty construction time: Going up!

Below is the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, as it looked when the monument was first under construction:

The pedestal for the Statue of Liberty


8. Newspaper sketches from the time of the initial construction

Statue of Liberty construction - island

Construction of the statue of Liberty


9. Newspaper illustration of the construction scaffolding

Statue of Liberty construction - scaffolding


Restoration images from the ’80s

10. Statue of Liberty’s torch fire in new copper

Statue of Liberty's torch in restored copper


11. Liberty with scaffolding during repairs in the eighties

Statue of Liberty with scaffording during repairs in the eighties

DON’T MISS: See 30 photos of daredevil skyscraper construction workers hanging out at dizzying heights over New York City


12. Thumb holding Liberty’s torch

Statue of Liberty holding her torch


13. Fingers holding the torch

Statue of Liberty - Fingers holding the torch


14. Liberty’s arm, seen from near torch level

Statue of Liberty construction - One arm at torch level


15. Side view of the statue’s head and sunburst headpiece

Statue of Liberty - Side view of head - 1985


16. Looking down, as seen from torch arm

Statue of Liberty - seen from torch arm

ALSO SEE: Give me your tired, your poor: The history of the Statue of Liberty poem


17. “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World”

Liberty statue face


18. Head & hair from the side/back

Statue of Liberty's head from the side back


19. Lights inside of the head

The lines on the walls are from the shape of her hair

Inside the Statue of Liberty's head


20. Liberty’s face mask

Statue of Liberty construction: The face mask


21. Close up of the face: Nose and lips

Close up of the Statue of Liberty's face - Lips and nose


22. The inside of the face: Nose and lips

The inside of the Statue of Liberty's face


23. Close-up of her date tablet

July IV MDCCLXXVI = July 4, 1776

Statue of Liberty - Date book


24. A staircase inside the statue

Statue of Liberty's staircase inside

MORE: New Amsterdam to now: Images of New York in the Colonial days


25. Lady Liberty’s feet and toes

Statue of Liberty's feet and toes


26. Inside the Statue of Liberty

Inside Statue of Liberty


27. Liberty with scaffolding in the 1980s

Statue of Liberty with scaffolding in the 1980s


28. Liberty Island, New York in the ’80s

Liberty Island, New York

NOW SEE THIS: The history of the Statue of Liberty, aka Liberty Enlightening the World (1884)

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