NOTE: Video is from FOX 2’s coverage of the Statue if Liberty replica arriving in 2023.

SAUGET, Ill. – A century-old Statue of Liberty replica has called the St. Louis region – specifically Sauget, Illinois – home for nearly two years. But unlike the original in New York, the statue in Sauget currently does not stand tall.

Major repairs are underway on the Statue of Liberty replica at the National Building Arts Center. Restoration efforts include removing corroded sections, patching in new metal and preparing it to stand on a pedestal after decades of metal skin corrosion.

Originally perched atop the Liberty Warehouse in Manhattan for 101 years, the Statue of Liberty replica was donated to the Brooklyn Museum in the early 2000s. After that, it was transferred to the National Building Arts Center in 2023 as part of a partnership to preserve historic architectural artifacts.

Repairs began in late-April and are expected to take several months to complete, according to Emery Cox from the National Building Arts Center.

Once restored, the statue isn’t going anywhere. It will remain a permanent fixture at the center.

Once installed, the statute will stand 30 feet tall, mounted atop a 20-foot pedestal, a total height of 50 feet tall.

Once standing, the statue should be visible from parts of the Sauget skyline. The National Building Arts Center may also offer various ticketed tours to give the public a chance to see the statue up close.

A public dedication ceremony is also expected once repairs are finished, though the exact timeline has not yet been determined.

The Sauget Statute of Liberty is nearly 1000 miles away – or a 15-hour drive, from the original Statue of Liberty in New York. Since its completion in 1886, the original Statue of Liberty has stood as an enduring symbol of freedom, hope and opportunity.