Statue's Patina Prevented Congressional Repainting

The Statue of Liberty originally had a dull copper color, but oxidation covered it with a green patina about 20 years after its 1886 dedication. Believing the patina showed corrosion, Congress authorized $62,800 for repairs and for painting the statue inside and out. The Army Corps of Engineers found that the patina protected the copper skin and concluded that it had "softened the outlines of the Statue and made it beautiful," so the exterior remained unpainted.

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