What metal is the Statue of Liberty primarily made of?

The Statue of Liberty is primarily made of copper.

Its exterior consists of thin copper sheets shaped and assembled using the repoussé technique, in which metal is hammered from the front and back to form large curved sections. The copper was chosen because it is workable, durable, and relatively light for a sculpture of this enormous size.

The statue’s internal structure is not copper alone. Gustave Eiffel and his team designed an iron framework that supports the copper skin, allowing the outer surface to move slightly in wind and temperature changes. The copper originally had a reddish-brown metallic appearance, but exposure to oxygen and moisture gradually produced the green patina visible today.

Bronze is a common mix-up because bronze is also used for many outdoor sculptures. Bronze is an alloy, usually of copper and tin; the Statue of Liberty’s famous outer skin, however, is copper. Its original torch was copper-covered as well, while the present torch is made from copper with a gold coating.