3. Defiant Icon of Freedom
The greenish-blue color of the Statue, replicated in glow-in-the-dark souvenirs around the world, is as a result of two decades of exposure to the elements. When she arrived in 1886, the statue was the color of a shiny new penny. But as the copper wore away, the green hue was left behind.
Aesthetics aside, Lady Liberty keeps a few secrets hidden from the public. When Bartholdi created the first models, Lady Liberty was holding broken chains to signify an end to slavery. But American financiers rejected the idea, so Bartholdi replaced the chains in her hands with a tablet.
However, he kept the broken chains that were at her feet, to symbolize freedom from oppression and servitude. But due to the height of the pedestal, visitors cannot see this final symbol of defiance.
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