Statue of Liberty
Accessed by ferry from
Battery Park in lower Manhattan
(212) 363-3200
Summary:
There simply is no substitute for a visit
to this monument, a symbol of New York
City and the United States to people
throughout the world.
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More than 100 years after
she was presented to the U.S. by France
in 1884, the Lady with the Lamp continues
to beckon folks to New York City from her
perch in the New York Harbor. Your first
glimpse of her on the ferry ride from
lower Manhattan is likely to take your
breath away -- seeing the statue in
person is always a bit awe-inspiring,
even though you may have seen the image
thousands of times before.
What to Expect
Sadly, since Sept. 11, you are no longer
able to visit the statue's crown (and
visitors have been prohibited from going
up into the torch since 1916) -- the
climb up endless stairs, first to the top
of the pedestal, and then, using an ever-
narrowing staircase, to the statue's
crown was always exhausting, but the
thrill of peering out the tiny portholes
at New York made the trip well
worthwhile. But don't despair! You'll
still get a good look at this monumental
work of art: guided by a Park Ranger and
aided by enhanced lighting and a new
video system, visitors are now able to
view the inside of the Statue through a
glass ceiling from the base. In addition,
you can walk out onto the Statue’s
observation deck to see the panoramic
views of New York City and the Harbor,
and witness the Statue up close from the
promenade and Ft. Wood.
Be sure to stop in at the
museum and learn more about the statue's
history and centenial restoration before
you go up. Not only will you see
architectural drawings and models of Lady
Liberty including some of the
not-so-attractive prototypes, but you
will learn fun facts, such as why she's
green (the statue's shell is copper,
which oxidizes when exposed to the
elements), what the 7 points of her crown
represent (the seven seas and the seven
continents), and that at 151 ft., the
Statue of Liberty is the tallest statue
of modern times.
Details
Getting into the statue itself is free,
but to get to Liberty Island, you will
have to pay for the ferry which leaves
from Battery Park and is run by the same
people who run the Circle Line Cruise.
The ferry schedules according to the
season and expected volume. You can get
schedule information and make
reservations over the phone at
1-866-STATUE4 or online.
Note that access to the inside of the
statue can only be obtained through a
timed reservation. The good news is that
once you've paid the ferry fare, you can
also visit Ellis Island on
your way back.
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