Anthony Soraci, now 71, recalls the moment in 1984 when he leaned out from scaffolding 265 feet above ground to kiss the Statue of Liberty’s head during a massive restoration project—without wearing a safety harness. The photograph became so iconic that President Ronald Reagan referenced it twice during the statue’s centennial celebration in 1986.
Death-Defying Work on America’s Landmark
Soraci was 29 years old when a photographer on the jobsite encouraged him to pose for the famous shot. Standing on a telescoping metal pole while rigging scaffolding at the start of the four-year restoration, Soraci leaned forward to plant the kiss that would make history. The grandson of Italian immigrants had worked in construction trades since age 15, starting with roofing and siding before joining the unions due to his extensive experience and fearlessness at extreme heights.
Worker in iconic photo kissing Statue of Liberty recalls death-defying perch: 'One slip and it was over' https://t.co/rhYesMSFoD pic.twitter.com/wJGgsp0QvZ
— New York Post (@nypost) July 1, 2026
Safety harnesses were not an option during the restoration work, Soraci explained. The crew was actively spiking scaffolding while ascending the structure, circling the statue multiple times daily. Wearing a harness would have made the construction work impossible. As shop steward, Soraci’s primary responsibility was ensuring crew safety. He refused to allow anyone on the project who lacked proper experience, knowing that a single mistake at that height would be fatal.
Presidential Recognition and Family Pride
During his July 1986 speech celebrating America’s 210th birthday and the statue’s centennial on Liberty Island, Reagan highlighted Soraci’s contribution. The president told the crowd about the worker with a tool belt balanced on narrow scaffolding who kissed Miss Liberty’s forehead. Reagan noted that Soraci said it was something to tell his grandchildren. Though Soraci’s immigrant grandparents had passed away before the photograph was taken, he remains confident they would have been proud of his role in American history.
Unique Vantage Point of a National Symbol
The restoration work gave Soraci an unprecedented view of details most Americans never see. He particularly remembered observing the broken shackle and chains beneath the statue’s draperies—a design element by sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi that remains largely hidden from ground-level observers. Soraci described the entire project as patriotic and historical, calling it beautiful work on a special landmark. Workers had to bring their lunches to the top since retrieving food from ground level was impractical during the workday.