The Statue Of Liberty Torch
Inside the base of the Statue Of Liberty is the original torch. When installed originally, the torch was solid and gilded in gold leaf.
Instead of spotlighting the torch as Bartholdi’s - the statue's french architect - had intended and recommended, other architects were brought in and, over the years tried to add different lighting setups to make it shine like a flame.
One of the designs had spotlights and caused the death of many birds who would become blind and fly directly into the solid copper of the torch. This was altered to a few sections being cut out and glass added. Later it was made to looks as does here. Through all of these changes it never really shined like a torch and with the design you see here there were constant leaks and a weakening of the structure to the point of it becoming in need of constant repair.
Finally the decision was made to re-make the torch like Bartholdi’s original design and spotlight it externally. It now shines bright an beautifully as it was originally intended.
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