Weight of framework: 250,000 lbs. (125 tons). Weight of concrete foundation: 54,000,000 lbs. Thickness of copper sheeting: 3/32 of an inch, the thickness of two pennies placed together. Wind Sway: 50 mph winds cause the Statue to sway up to 3 inches and the torch up to 6 inches. Direction: The Statue faces southeast in perfect symmetry with the placement of Fort Wood and how people would see the Statue while entering the harbor. Crown: 25 windows and seven rays make up the crown. Chains: Chains and a broken shackle are at the Statue's feet and cannot be seen from below. The Tablet: Reads in Roman numerals "July 4, 1776" -- the date of American Independence. (JULY IV MDCCLXXVI) The Torch: The current torch was a replacement of the original and installed in 1986. At that time, the original torch was moved to the pedestal lobby and in 2018, it was relocated to the "Torch Gallery" in the Statue of Liberty Museum. The 1986 version is copper, covered in 24k. gold leaf. Sunlight reflects off the gold during the daytime and floodlights light the torch by reflection at night. |
Last updated: June 1, 2021