The original torch of the Statue of Liberty

One torch, two versions

The statue holds her torch in her right hand, raised above her head. It is the gesture behind the monument's full name, Liberty Enlightening the World. But the piece that tops the arm today is a replacement. The original stayed in place from 1886 until 1984, nearly a century, and was then swapped for a new gold-plated copper torch.

That surprises plenty of visitors. As you approach the island, the original torch is not up there at all; it is inside the museum building. The flame you see glinting from the ferry is the modern one.

If you like details, notice the difference between looking and standing close. From the water the torch looks like a small golden flame at the end of a long arm. In the museum you can sense the real scale of a piece built to be seen from ships entering the harbor.

The arm that traveled before the statue

The torch has a story that predates the finished statue. Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi completed the head and the torch-bearing arm before the overall design was settled, and used them as publicity to rally support and funds. The arm and torch were shown at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, and then displayed in Madison Square Park in Manhattan from 1876 to 1882.

To understand how the whole monument was built and paid for, read History of the Statue of Liberty. For this page, the point is that the torch was literally the project's calling card: a giant piece people could see and touch years before the full figure existed.

That early display tells you something about how the project worked. Nobody could yet see the whole statue, so people were asked to imagine it from a single enormous hand and flame. It was an early example of showing a work in progress to win over donors, and it is worth keeping in mind when you see the torch in the museum.

Why you cannot climb up to the torch

Today the public has no access to the torch. According to the sources, it has been closed since 1916, and the reason was an explosion: the Black Tom munitions depot blast of July 30 of that year, on the New Jersey side of New York Harbor, very close to Liberty Island. It was an act of sabotage during the First World War, and the shock wave and flying fragments reached the statue, with damage that mostly affected the skirt and the torch.

After the blast, the arm and torch were closed to visitors because of structural damage. Even when the statue went through a major restoration later, access was not reopened. What visitors can reach, in limited numbers, is the interior of the crown, and that can change; we cover it in Statue of Liberty crown: how to climb it.

The 1984 to 1986 restoration

During that restoration the arm was repaired and a new gold-plated copper torch was installed. That is the one catching the light above the harbor today. The old torch was taken down and kept: it had carried the flame for nearly a hundred years and had become part of the monument's story.

The swap is a good reminder when you visit: the statue you see is a living structure, repaired and updated over time, not a relic frozen in 1886.

There is a second reason the swap matters. Copper skin and an iron framework react to weather, salt air, and time, and keeping a monument like this standing means replacing parts when needed. The original torch is therefore both an artwork and a record of how the statue has aged.

Where to see the original torch today

The original torch is in the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, which opened on May 16, 2019. The museum focuses on the creation, meaning, and history of the monument, and the torch is one of its centerpieces. It also has exhibits on the construction and a theater where visitors can watch an aerial view of the statue. The displays include more than 500 photographs and graphics drawn from over 100 sources, among them rare historic construction photos and sketches of early pedestal designs.

One practical note: the museum was designed to hold all of the island's daily visitors, while the previous one could take only about a fifth of them. Even so, on busy days it is worth giving it unhurried time. The building and pedestal are covered in Statue of Liberty pedestal and museum.

Think of the visit as a two-step route: first the statue seen from outside, with the modern flame against the sky, then the museum interior, where the original can be appreciated up close and with explanation. Many travelers give the museum less time than it deserves, so set aside an unhurried block to avoid rushing.

How to fit it into your visit

The key is getting to the island: the original torch is part of the museum visit, and Liberty Island is reached by the official ferry. How to visit the Statue of Liberty explains how to plan the trip, and Ferries and boats to the Statue of Liberty: which to choose compares the boat options, including those that do not land.

If you only want to see the modern flame from the water or from the shore, you do not need to set foot on the island. But the original torch can only be seen indoors. Access conditions, security rules, and open areas can change, so check the official National Park Service website and your ferry or tour operator before you go.

If you travel with children or older relatives, the museum is also a good place to rest indoors between walks on the island. And if your plan includes the other island on the ferry route, see Liberty Island or Ellis Island: which to pick (or both) to split the day well.