# Requesting info. regarding Statue of Liberty's arm closure

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requesting-info-regarding-statue-of-libertys-arm-closure/596103>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 12, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requesting-info-regarding-statue-of-libertys-arm-closure/596103 "2011-09-12T22:33:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cdriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a3d4f5/32.png) [@cdriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdriver)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requesting-info-regarding-statue-of-libertys-arm-closure/596103/1 "2011-09-12T22:33:19Z")

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Where can I find more information on the following statement regarding the arm/flame of the statue of liberty closure? “The closing gave rise to a rumor that the statue had been damaged the previous year by a massive explosion in a nearby Jersey City ammo dump that had been touched off by German saboteurs.”

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requesting-info-regarding-statue-of-libertys-arm-closure/596103/2 "2011-09-12T23:07:21Z")

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It’s always helpful to list the column you are referencing, in this case

[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/612/could-visitors-once-go-into-the-statue-of-libertys-arm](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/612/could-visitors-once-go-into-the-statue-of-libertys-arm)

Of course Wiki sources must be taken with not only a grain but often a boxcar of salt but this may give you more info. It took me a difficult ten seconds to find it.

> **[Black Tom explosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tom_explosion)**
>
> The Black Tom explosion was an act of sabotage by agents of the German Empire, to destroy U.S.-made munitions that were to be supplied to the Allies in World War I. The explosions, which occurred on July 30, 1916, in New York Harbor, killed at least four people and destroyed some $20,000,000 ($540 million in 2023 dollars) worth of military goods. This incident, which happened prior to U.S. entry into World War I, also damaged the Statue of Liberty. It was one of the largest artificial no The te...