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New Lighting System To Highlight Lady Liberty's Aesthetics

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Published Date

July 5, 2015
Statue of Liberty webcam

Check out the Statue of Liberty's webcams Tuesday night to see the new lighting system installed for Lady Liberty/NPS, EarthCam

Be sure to check out the Statue of Liberty's webcams on Tuesday, when a new LED lighting system will highlight Lady Liberty's best sides while reducing light pollution.

The lighting system, which is to be turned on at 8:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, was provided by Musco Lighting, an Iowa lighting company that has worked with the National Park Service on lighting systems in places such as Big Bend National Park, Zion National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and for the Washington Monument at the National Mall.

The Statue of Liberty's lighting has changed and evolved with the advancement of technology, starting with the first system of floodlights in 1916, to a system of incandescent floodlights donated by The Westinghouse Company in 1931, to mercury vapor lamps, also donated by Westinghouse, in 1944-45, to new lighting systems in time for the bicentennial in 1976, and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation's restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island in 1986.

Prior to Hurricane Sandy, much of the Statue of Liberty's lighting system was housed in below ground light wells. Musco Lighting came to the Lady Liberty's aid after the storm and installed a temporary system, which has been in place since November 9, 2012.

Musco custom designed the new lighting solution with precise optics to highlight the aesthetics of the monument, while reducing the amount of light pollution being projected into the night sky. Although the LED system provides twice the brightness level of the previous metal halide lights, it reduces energy consumption by 62 percent.

"The Statue of Liberty has been an icon of freedom for nearly 130 years. After the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, we were honored to bring the monument back to light with our temporary system," said Joe Crookham, president, Musco Lighting. "With the new permanent lighting system in place, we continue our partnership with the National Parks and our shared commitment to bringing good lighting practices to the nation's parks."

"We are thrilled with Musco's outstanding donation. The good lighting practices that have been initiated will result in energy efficiency and enhance the experience of millions of people who view Lady Liberty from New York Harbor in the evening hours," said John Piltzecker, superintendent of Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

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