TheStatueofLibertywasfirstassembledinParisin1884,thendisassembledandreassembledintheUnitedStatesatwhatisnowcalledLibertyIsland.BeginninginJuly1981,aseriesofinspectionswasconductedbytheNationalParkServiceandbyanInternationalteamofengineersandarchitects.Overadozenproblemareasneedingattentionwereidentified:
Ruststainsontheexteriorcopperskin
Severecorrosionofsomesmallareasofthecopperskin
Deteriorationofthetorch
Degradationinthecrownareaandspikes
Structuralconcernsintheshoulderofthetorcharm
Corrosionoftheironarmature
Paintpeelingontheinteriorcopperskinandsupportstructure
TheproblemthatmostnecessitatedtherestorationoftheStatueofLibertywasgalvaniccorrosionoftheironarmatureincontactwiththecopperskin.Galvaniccorrosionoccurswhendissimilarmetalsareinelectricalcontactinthesameelectrolyte.Thedifferenceinelectrochemicalpotentialbetweenthedissimilarmetals(ironandcopper)isthedrivingforceforelectrolysis,wherebythearmature,forminghorizontalanodesatanacceleratedrate.Theironarmature,forminghorizontalandverticalribsagainstthecopperskin,andtheattachmentmechanism,wherebycoppersaddles(whichareflushrivetedtothecopperskin)surroundtheironarmature,providedaconfigurationconducivetogalvaniccorrosion.
Sincealloftheironarmaturewasinterconnected,onlyonelocationofphysicalcontacttothecopperskinwasnecessarytoprovideelectricalcontinuitytothecopperthroughouttheStatue.ThedesignersoftheStatuehadtriedtopreventthisgalvaniccouplingbyinsulatingthetwomaterialswithasbestosclothssoakedinshellac.Thiswasonlyatemporarybarrierthatbecameporouswithageandprovidedelectrolyticcontinuitybywickingandcapillaryaction.(reference)
In1903thelastwordsinthesonnet"TheNewColossus"bypoetEmmaLazarus(1883)wasinscribedatthemainentrancetothepedestal:
NotlikethebrazengiantofGreekfameWithconqueringlimbsastridefromlandtoland;Hereatoursea-washed,sunsetgatesshallstandAmightywomanwithatorch,whoseflameIstheimprisonedlightning,andhernameMotherofExiles.Fromherbeacon-handGlowsworld-widewelcome;hermildeyescommandTheair-bridgedharborthattwincitiesframe,"Keep,ancientlands,yourstoriedpomp!"criessheWithsilentlips."Givemeyourtired,yourpoor,Yourhuddledmassesyearningtobreathefree,Thewretchedrefuseofyourteemingshore,Sendthese,thehomeless,tempest-tossedtome,Iliftmylampbesidethegoldendoor!"
