<P> Beginning December 26, 1971, 15 anti-Vietnam War veterans occupied the statue, flying a US flag upside down from her crown . They left December 28 following a Federal Court order . The statue was also several times taken over briefly by demonstrators publicizing causes such as Puerto Rican independence, opposition to abortion, and opposition to US intervention in Grenada . Demonstrations with the permission of the Park Service included a Gay Pride Parade rally and the annual Captive Baltic Nations rally . </P> <P> A powerful new lighting system was installed in advance of the American Bicentennial in 1976 . The statue was the focal point for Operation Sail, a regatta of tall ships from all over the world that entered New York Harbor on July 4, 1976, and sailed around Liberty Island . The day concluded with a spectacular display of fireworks near the statue . </P> <P> The statue was examined in great detail by French and American engineers as part of the planning for its centennial in 1986 . In 1982, it was announced that the statue was in need of considerable restoration . Careful study had revealed that the right arm had been improperly attached to the main structure . It was swaying more and more when strong winds blew and there was a significant risk of structural failure . In addition, the head had been installed 2 feet (0.61 m) off center, and one of the rays was wearing a hole in the right arm when the statue moved in the wind . The armature structure was badly corroded, and about two percent of the exterior plates needed to be replaced . Although problems with the armature had been recognized as early as 1936, when cast iron replacements for some of the bars had been installed, much of the corrosion had been hidden by layers of paint applied over the years . </P> <P> In May 1982, President Ronald Reagan announced the formation of the Statue of Liberty--Ellis Island Centennial Commission, led by Chrysler Corporation chair Lee Iacocca, to raise the funds needed to complete the work . Through its fundraising arm, the Statue of Liberty--Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., the group raised more than $350 million in donations . The Statue of Liberty was one of the earliest beneficiaries of a cause marketing campaign . A 1983 promotion advertised that for each purchase made with an American Express card, the company would contribute one cent to the renovation of the statue . The campaign generated contributions of $1.7 million to the restoration project . </P>

When did the statue of liberty get built