AUSTIN, Texas It's stood tall over the Texas State Capitol building for nearly 100 years, and, now, the Goddess of Liberty statue is getting some TLC at its new home in the Bullock Museum. <\/p>\n
The Goddess of Liberty was first installed on top of the Capitol building back in 1888, just short of 100 years later (98 years to be exact), it was taken down and replaced with a replica. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Before rising to the dome in 1888. <\/p>\n
According to the Bullock, workers repainting the Capitol dome in 1983 noticed significant deterioration along the back of the Goddess's arms and right hand, as well as her sword. <\/p>\n
After being perched on the dome for nearly 100 years, pollution, lightning, temperature changes, and wind had taken their toll on the statue's impure original materials. <\/p>\n
The State Preservation Board removed the original statue from the dome by helicopter in 1985 and placed it carefully on the south lawn. <\/p>\n
She's 16 feet tall, 4.5 feet wide, 3,000 pounds and made mostly of iron and zinc. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
1983 photograph showing the original Goddess's significant deterioration. Image courtesy of Texas State Library and Archives Commission. <\/p>\n
Her move and restoration is the result of $20,000 grant to Texas State History Museum Foundation from Bank of America Art Conservation Project. <\/p>\n
The restoration will be taking place through July 17. Curators are working daytime hours so visitors can check it out, get a sense of what goes into conservation. <\/p>\n
--- <\/p>\n
Join the Discussion: <\/p>\n
Follow Spectrum News Austin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram <\/p>\n
Follow Spectrum News San Antonio on Facebook & Twitter <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
View original post here: <\/p>\n
Originally atop the Capitol, Goddess of Liberty undergoing restoration - TWC News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AUSTIN, Texas It's stood tall over the Texas State Capitol building for nearly 100 years, and, now, the Goddess of Liberty statue is getting some TLC at its new home in the Bullock Museum. The Goddess of Liberty was first installed on top of the Capitol building back in 1888, just short of 100 years later (98 years to be exact), it was taken down and replaced with a replica. Before rising to the dome in 1888. Continue reading