The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, yes, that Eiffel, in the late 19th century. It was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, and it was meant to symbolize the ideals of freedom and democracy. But, what's really interesting is that the statue's copper exterior was not meant to last - it was expected to oxidize over time, which it did, and rather dramatically.
So, what happened to the copper exterior, you ask? Well, when the statue was first built, it had a rather shiny copper look, but as it was exposed to the elements, it began to oxidize, forming a patina that slowly turned it green. It's like the statue decided to go for a more avant-garde look, and who can blame it, really? The green color has become an iconic part of the statue's image, and we can't imagine it any other way.
Now, you might be wondering, why didn't they just clean the statue and restore it to its original copper color? Well, the thing is, the patina that formed on the statue's surface actually protects the copper beneath from further oxidation, so it's actually a good thing. Plus, can you imagine the controversy if they decided to change the statue's color - it would be like changing the Mona Lisa's smile!
