of rivets were replaced, and any seams or open holes
were sealed.
A significant feature of the restoration was the re-
placement of the torch. The original torch, which
had been modified extensively in 1916, was consid-
ered beyond repair. The new torch included fea-
tures designed to enhance its visibility, such as gold
plating on the exterior of the flame and external
lamps on the surrounding balcony platform. Other
renovations to the statue included upgraded climate-
control systems and the addition of two elevators,
one to the top of the pedestal and a second emer-
gency elevator reaching the crown. Improvements
were also made to the administration and conces-
sion buildings on Liberty Island. New walkways were
added, along with landscaping to prepare the island
for the centennial celebration. Restoration work on
Ellis Island was limited to the main building and the
power station.
The Centennial On July 5, 1986, the Statue of Lib-
erty reopened to the public during a centennial cele-
bration known as Liberty Weekend. Acclaimed pro-
ducer David Wolper was selected to orchestrate the
$32-million gala. The event began on July 4 with over
three thousand restoration sponsors and members
of the media from more than forty nations joining
President Reagan for the grand unveiling. Numer-
ous celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth
Taylor joined in the salute to the statue. The presi-
dent kicked off the ceremonies by pressing a button
that activated the floodlights on the statue. The
event included the presentation of a special medal,
created solely for the centennial, called the Medal
of Liberty. The medal was given to twelve natural-
ized American citizens, including Irving Berlin, Bob
Hope, Henry Kissinger, Albert Sabin, and Itzhak
Perlman. Thirty-three naval vessels from fourteen
nations passed the statue and fired twenty-one gun
salutes. From Ellis Island, Chief Justice Warren Bur-
ger administered the citizenship oath to thirteen
thousand people via satellite television broadcast.
The evening was concluded with a dramatic fire-
works display.
The following day, First Lady Nancy Reagan led
French and American schoolchildren on the first
tour through the renovated statue, and a conference
on the meaning of liberty began in New York City.
On July 6, an event was held featuring sports legends
Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, and Hank Aaron.
It included a skating exhibition by Dorothy Hamill,
Peggy Fleming, and others. The closing ceremonies
of the centennial included a cast of over twelve thou-
sand, including notables Charlton Heston, Willie
Nelson, Gene Kelly, the Four Tops, and the Pointer
Sisters, as well as two hundred Elvis impersonators,
gospel choirs, drill teams, dancers, and the Statue of
Liberty All-American Marching Band.
Impact The restoration of the Statue of Liberty
National Monument and its subsequent centennial
celebration provided Americans with a chance to
celebrate their diverse heritage by recalling the im-
migrants who passed through Ellis Island and whose
first image of America was the welcoming sight of
the Statue of Liberty. The festivities portrayed the re-
newal of the statue as a renewal of the United States
itself. Some believed that the restoration of the
Statue of Liberty served as a metaphor for the resto-
ration of the American Dream that, according to
Reagan and his supporters, occurred during the
1980’s.
Further Reading
Bell, James B., and Richard I. Abrams.In Search of Lib-
erty. New York: Doubleday, 1984. Comprehensive
treatment of the story of the Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island. Printed for the Centennial Commis-
sion as a souvenir. Contains excellent images.
Moreno, Barry.The Statue of Liberty Encyclopedia. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. Thorough history
of the Statue of Liberty and the restoration. Quick
reference source.
Smith, V. Elaine. “Engineering Miss Liberty’s Res-
cue.”Popular Science228, no. 6 (June, 1986): 68-- Cover story on the restoration process that
focuses on the techniques and products used to
renovate the structure.
United States General Accounting Office.National
Parks: Restoration of the Statue of Liberty Monument—
Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on National
Parks and Recreation, Committee on Interior and Insu-
lar Affairs, House of Representatives. Washington,
D.C.: Author, 1986. Complete history of the proj-
ect, including detailed budget, organizational
chart, and numerous engineering blueprints and
reports.
Amanda Bahr-Evola
See also Iacocca, Lee; Immigration to the United
States; Reagan, Ronald; Reagan Revolution.The Eighties in America Statue of Liberty restoration and centennial 917