The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World), a colossal sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, underwent an extensive conservation-restoration between 1984 and 1986, in advance of its centennial. The statue, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. International attention to the Statue of Liberty's poor state was called upon the restoration of similarly-built Aimé Millet's Vercingétorix statue in eastern France. Much of the Statue of Liberty restoration effort was based on unprecedented restorative methods, as metallurgical repair work on such a large scale had never been attempted. Many scientists, engineers, government organizations, and professional consultants evaluated and dealt with the various problems and tasks facing the restoration effort.
The restored statue was reopened during Liberty Weekend, its 100-year anniversary celebration held July 3–6, 1986.
