Why Is Lady Liberty Green? The Iconic Glow of New York’s Goddess

From the controversial retaking of France to cleaning the mother statue, all the buzz just makes a lot want to see the Statue of Liberty even more! This iconic tourist spot has been the face of New York. Be for real, if you’re visiting New York for the first time and haven’t cruised your way to Lady Liberty, have you ever really been to The Big Apple?

But amid the admiration comes an age-old question that sparks curiosity time and again: Why is the Statue of Liberty green?

The Statue of Liberty Wasn’t Always Green

Upon reading many articles from writers who have pondered the same, the Statue of Liberty isn’t always green. Still, the statue is used to be just 350 pieces of copper, gleaming in a reddish-brown hue. After the French ate their le petit déjeuner in the morning of June 17, 1885, they sailed for 27 days to Bedloe’s Island in New York and artistically reassembled Lady Liberty.

Molded with his mother as an inspiration, French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi along with Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, an engineer who created the Eiffel Tower, designed the Statue of Liberty–a colossal copper goddess who has been an iconic statue to post with OOTDs, and share on Instagram with a caption “tell me you’re in New York, without telling me you’re in New York.” Kidding aside, this 305-foot statue is a beacon of hope and enlightenment–a symbol of freedom, democracy, peace, and friendship between France and the U.S..

Blame Oxidation: Turning Lady Liberty to Green

So, how did she turn green? On October 28, 1886, Lady Liberty stood her ground in the New York Harbor. For about 20 years, she retained her copper color, but eventually, due to oxidation, she became green, or actually called “patina.”

Oxidation happens when any element chemically combines with oxygen–in the case of Mother Liberty, her copper’s shiny metallic surface oxidised, turning her exterior to tenorite, a dark brown mineral coating that, when mixed with sulfuric acid in the air, can make the statue green.

Should We Paint The Statue of Liberty for Restoration?

Honestly, no–it’s a terrible idea. A lot of people love Lady Liberty as she is!

Experts, historians, and the general public actually rejected the idea of painting the Statue of Liberty. In fact, according to the report of The Times, painting the statue is unnecessary as the patina helps retain the metal, shield the copper, and prevent corrosion. Plus, painting it can be considered an act of vandalism according to the country’s largest copper and bronze manufacturer.

Lady Liberty is aging like fine wine, and the mother is mothering for years as she enlightens the world for more than a century.

Why Green Suits Lady Liberty?

Existing more than a century, green is totally Lady Liberty’s color! The patina gives her that vintage, iconic glow that makes her pop against the New York skyline. Copper might have been shiny in the 1880s, but in all sincerity, would she still be as Instagrammable if she looked like a giant penny? Probably not. Green makes her look timeless, like she’s been serving main-character energy for 138 years straight!

Beyond aesthetics, the color symbolizes inner depth. Green is often associated with renewal, harmony, and hope—qualities that perfectly mirror the statue’s role in the society. For the millions from all over the world who arrived at Ellis Island, her green figure rising above the harbor embodied the promise of fresh opportunity.

Plus, the shade works with every season. She looks dramatic in the winter fog, radiant in the summer sun, and straight-up ethereal during golden hour. Not every monument can pull that off! Instead of looking “old,” Lady Liberty is basically rocking the ultimate natural filter. She’s proof that aging isn’t about fading—it’s about leveling up your aesthetic.

Book a Discounted Cruise Tour to See Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty turns 139 this October 2025, and honestly, what better way to celebrate than to visit New York? This is your sign to book a ferry ride through Circle Line to see her up close, explore her artistic design, and learn more about her! The ferry ride is a 50-minute sightseeing-guided tour along the Hudson River that departs from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport.

Pro tip: Snag a spot on the deck for that golden-hour glow, when the light hits Lady Liberty just right and makes her green patina look like couture. Don’t forget to tilt your camera up—she’s tall, she’s dramatic, and she’s ready for her close-up. And it’s not just about the statue.

The ferry ride gives you front-row views of Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the kind of skyline that belongs in movie montages. It’s the New York experience that says: yes, you’ve really arrived.

Feel the breeze of New York like Rose from the 1997 movie Titanic, who looked up at the Statue of Liberty when the ship arrived in the city, symbolizing a new life, freedom, hope, and beautiful beginnings.