<P> On May 9, 1993, after being in place almost 130 years, the statue was brought down from its pedestal by helicopter for restoration, giving tourists a chance to see the statue up close . The work was needed because of extensive pitting and corrosion on the surface of the bronze and because of a crack and rusting on the cast - iron pedestal . The United States Capitol Preservation Commission provided the $780,000 in privately raised funds . The work was performed by New Arts Foundry of Baltimore, Maryland . </P> <P> The cast - iron pedestal was restored in place atop the dome . The metal was stripped of paint, and the wreaths and fasces were removed to ensure that they were thoroughly cleaned and coated . The crack was permanently repaired, and the entire pedestal was primed and painted with a color specially mixed to match the statue . </P> <P> Restoration of the statue and the pedestal was completed in approximately four months . The Statue of Freedom was returned to its pedestal by helicopter on October 23, 1993, amid the celebration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Capitol . Since then, every 2--3 years, the statue undergoes two weeks of cleaning and recoating as necessary . </P> <P> The plaster model of the statue, in storage for 25 years, was reassembled and restored in the basement rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building, where it was returned to permanent public display in January 1993 . The plaster model was relocated to the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center, which provides more visitors access to look at the statue's details . </P>

Statue on top of the united states capitol building