Editor’s note: This story was originally published on July 3, 2024.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
Time to get patriotic.
On July 3, 1986, the United States jumped into Independence Day festivities as President Ronald Reagan presided over a gala ceremony in New York Harbor that saw the relighting of the renovated Statue of Liberty.
The headlines in the Deseret News included:
“July 4th party has just begun”
“USS Iowa takes Regan past rededicated Liberty”
“Lady Liberty’s shining moment of glory signals end of long, costly restoration”
“Crowds of new citizens take oath all at once”
Officially called The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, the statue was a gift from France. It was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886, and designated a national monument in 1924.
In 1984, the decision was made to close the statue for renovations, to prepare for its 100th birthday. Restoration work included repairing the statue’s interior, crown and torch flame. For most of the two years, scaffolding surrounded the structure.
It reopened to much fanfare.
“Lady Liberty’s crown reopens for July Fourth”
Through the years, it has been closed for safety reasons due to worries around 9/11 in 2001, damage related to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, for another renovation project in 2012, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Here are other stories about the Statue of Liberty from Deseret News archives:
“The Statue of Liberty and today”
“Statue of Liberty: A reminder of freedom”
“A beacon of freedom for 120 years”
“Iacocca’s star tarnishes after statue’s centennial bash”
On a related note, will the Statue of Responsibility ever be built in Utah?
“‘Utah’s gift to the nation’ — Statue of Responsibility inches closer to home in Utah”
