The first serious restoration of the Statue of Liberty took place in 1984. Between 1976 and 1982, the statue was closed for a complete renovation. The French and American architects, technicians and craftsmen worked on this four phase restoration.
1986: Torch
The original torch's flame was damaged at the end of the 19th Century. At that time, the torch used stained glass placed over copper sheets to recreate the flame. Unfortunately, this design made maintenance almost impossible. Because of the severe deterioration, the torch was replaced by another in 1984, this one made of copper covered with gold leaf and glass. The old flame now lies at the base of the statue.
2011-2012: Hurricane Sandy
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Liberty Island was inundated with salt water. The Statue of Liberty escaped any structural damage, but salt penetrated cracks in the copper skin and oxidized the interior support frame. Corrosion caused large pieces of copper to bulge and come dangerously loose. As part of the emergency repairs, more than 100 copper sheathes were replaced and a protective coating applied to the statue's outer layer of copper.
