PERSPECTIVE
WORLD-GENERATION NOV/DEC 2015
4
On July 7
th
, 150 invited guests and
media rode the evening ferry to Liberty
Island to witness the Statue of Liberty
being lit with Musco’s light-emitting diode
(LED) light source. The LED system pro-
vides twice the brightness level and reduc-
es energy consumption by 62 percent. The
Statue of Liberty National Monument joins
The Washington Monument, Mount
Rushmore National Memorial, the White
House, and the Flight 93 National Memorial
featuring customized lighting systems by
Musco. Musco custom designed the new
lighting solution with precise optics to high-
light the aesthetics of the monuments.
The Statue of Liberty’s lighting has
changed and evolved with the advancement
of technology. The first system was flood
lights in 1916; to incandescent floodlights in
1931; mercury vapor lamps in 1944-45; new
lighting systems in time for the bicentenni-
al in 1976; and the 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 Lady Liberty’s aid after
the storm and installed a temporary system
which was in place since November 9, 2012.
“After the devastation of Hurricane
Sandy, we were honored to bring the monu-
ment back to light,” said Joe Crookham,
president of Musco Lighting. “With the
new permanent lighting system, we contin-
ue 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 outstand-
ing 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.
GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP
“The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the
World” was a gift of friendship from the
people of France to the United States and is
recognized as a universal symbol of free-
dom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty
was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and des-
ignated as a National Monument in 1924.
Ellis Island is a former federal immigration
station which processed more than 12 mil-
lion immigrants between 1892 and 1954. A
1965 presidential proclamation added the
island to the National Park Service as part
of Statue of Liberty National Monument. It
now features exhibits and programs illus-
trating America’s immigration history.
MOUNT RUSHMORE
Musco has had a close partnership
with the National Park Service for many
years, relighting numerous national parks
around the country. Lighting Mount
Rushmore presented Musco’s team with
several unique challenges, the biggest of
which was customizing a system that would
project more than 1,100 feet onto the iconic
sculpture, while minimizing light spillage
and sky glow.
Advanced optical controls highlight the
aesthetics of the monument, while ensuring
light is not spilled into the night sky and
natural wildlife area. The new system
reduces operating costs at the monument
with a 90 percent reduction of energy con-
sumption and the elimination of mainte-
nance with Musco’s comprehensive 10-year
warranty.
The system dramatically enhances the
rendering of the memorial’s fine-detailed
sculpture with pinpoint light control, pre-
senting a theater-like impression for the
memorial’s over two million annual visitors.
The system’s instant on/off/dimming capa-
bilities provide opportunities for special
effects during presentations and events.
MUSCO LIGHTING
Musco Lighting is based in Oskaloosa,
IA. Musco Lighting has specialized in the
design and manufacture of sports and large
area lighting solutions around the world.
Musco has pioneered systems using metal
halide and LED technologies that have
made dramatic improvements in energy
efficiency and provided affordable ways to
control spill light and glare.
LADY LIBERTY GETS FACELIFT
BY DICK FLANAGAN
