VISITOR INFORMATIONLOCATIONHarbor Islands. GETTING THEREStatue Cruises ferry provides daily service from Battery Park, Manhattan and from the Central Railroad Terminal building in Liberty State Park, NJ. Get map & directions to NY departure point or NJ departure point. HOURSOpen daily, 9am-5pm. ACCESSIBILITYFerries are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair guests with a monument pass will be able to visit the lobby, museum and Fort Wood promenade level. Handicapped restrooms are available at Castle Clinton and Liberty State Park, and ferry ticket counters are handicapped accessible. While pets are not allowed on the ferries or Liberty Island, guide and other assist animals are welcome. Large print brochures are available upon request. ASL tours are available free of charge at regularly scheduled intervals. Get more information. PETSPets are not allowed. CONTACTStatue of Liberty National Monument (NPS), 212-363-3200 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Battery Park |
Statue of Liberty National MonumentThe world-famous symbol of freedom and democracy in New York HarborPerhaps the most recognizable woman in the world, the Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize America itself. It has welcomed immigrants, returning citizens and visitors to these shores for over 100 years. On October 29, 2011, all interior spaces of the Statue of Liberty will close to the public while upgrades are made to the 125 year old pedestal and the 200 year old fort base from which the statue rises. However, Liberty Island will remain open during this period and visitors will still be able to stroll through the 12 acre landscaped island. When the Statue reopens, visitors will once again be able to climb to the pedestal and crown for 360 degree views of the harbor and New York City; view the original torch up-close in the lobby of the statue; and tour the Statue of Liberty Museum which includes many informational displays, models, and scale replicas. A gift from the people of France, the statue was given to the United States as a symbol of enduring liberty and union after the turmoil of the Civil War. At the time, France was in the midst of its own revolution, and saw America as a beacon of hope for freedom and democracy. Heralded as the eighth wonder of the world when erected in 1886, "Liberty Enlightening the World" by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was the tallest structure in the city and the tallest statue in the world. With a "skin" the width of only two pennies, the statue is supported by an extensive steel frame designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame. The French weren't the only people who dedicated time and money to the construction of the statue. The pedestal was built on top of Fort Wood, which had been part of the inner harbor's defenses dating from the Revolutionary War. An immigrant himself, famed newspaperman Joseph Pulitzer also promised to publish the name of any person who contributed to his fundraising effort to pay for the construction of the pedestal. His newspaper, The World, was able to raise over $100,000, mostly in donations of less than a dollar. With this new burst of fundraising, the pedestal was completed in 1885. The statue's image has been used in many ways over the years -- welcoming immigrants, encouraging support of the armed forces, and even to sell lemons. The statue's museum, located in the pedestal, shows how it was conceived, constructed, and restored, and also allows visitors to see full scale replicas of her face and foot up close. Etched on a bronze plaque on the inner walls of the statue's pedestal is this famous poem by Emma Lazarus: The New Colossus "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she, |
Things to Do
Site ToursDAILY, schedule posted in Visitor Center Museum and Liberty Island Other ActivitiesHistory and Statue of Liberty, Torch and New Colossus exhibits. |
