This archive report was first published on 24 October 2021.
Unveiled in 1886, the Statue of Liberty initially had a shiny brown color, reminiscent of a copper penny.
This brown hue was due to the copper coating that covered the statue, which would eventually undergo a transformation over the years.
As the copper reacted with oxygen, it formed copper carbonates, copper sulfide, and copper sulfate, resulting in a patina that not only changed the statue's color but also protected the underlying metal from corrosion.
This natural process explains the remarkable longevity of the Statue of Liberty, a testament to the power of nature.
