The Statue of Liberty’s original torch

The Statue of Liberty’s original torch (1886–1984) on display in the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island

The original torch of the Statue of Liberty was designed by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel, who is also known for designing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The torch was made of copper and was coated in gold leaf to make it shine brightly in the sunlight.

The torch was first displayed in Paris in 1876 as part of a fundraising effort for the statue’s construction, before being shipped to New York in 1885. When the statue was completed the following year, the torch was mounted on top of the statue’s pedestal, where it remained until 1984.

Over the years, the torch suffered damage from exposure to the elements, as well as from a 1916 bombing attempt by German agents. In 1916, a bomb exploded on the base of the statue, damaging the torch and causing it to close to the public.

In the 1980s, a major restoration effort was launched to restore the statue to its original condition. As part of this effort, the torch was replaced with a replica, and the original torch was placed in a museum (i.e. the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island) inside the statue’s pedestal, where it can be viewed by visitors today.