Bronze has proven its permanence and ability to endure many of the natural elements through time. Bronze has been used for thousands of years, as far back as 3500 B.C., in the construction of tools and statues that still exist today in their natural form and appearance. Copper is a precious metal that, like bronze, is naturally resistant to rust and corrosion. There is perhaps no finer example of the strength and permanence of copper than the Statue of Liberty.