The Statue of Liberty Embodies the Best Ideals of the American Experience – New York City, United States
What is It? - The Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York City has been a symbol of American liberty and freedom ever since it was opened to the public by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. It has been viewed by tens of millions of people over the years. Some were commuters riding back and forth to New York City on ferries from Staten Island or Jersey City. Others were the more than four million people who tour Liberty Island annually to marvel at the 30,000-ton copper statue with a distinctive green color that rises a total of 305 feet above the land. But numerous American families also have ancestors who remember seeing it as immigrants arriving on ships from around the world in New York Harbor or while being processed at the nearby Ellis Island immigration center.
The statue, gifted to the United States by people of France in honor of the countries’ alliance during the American Revolution, was conceived and designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1871. After working to raise funds for the project for more than a decade, it was constructed in France using 350 separate pieces of copper, transported to the United States, and assembled here on a cement pedestal using a central steel pylon. The statue depicts Lady Liberty in a Roman toga holding a torch in one hand with a flame made of gold leaf and a book in the other. The flame represents the light of freedom, the tablet is engraved with the date of July 4, 1776, in honor of the Declaration of Independence, and the toga symbolizes the experimental democracy of the Roman Republic. The words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” are engraved on the base.
Things to Do Here – Visiting the Statue is an inspiring experience, particularly since the entire complex was restored in 1986 at a cost of $100 million. The four most popular attractions to visit there include:
Statue of Liberty Museum – The museum is a great place to start for people interested in learning about the history of the statue. Displays there explain how it was made, the symbolism of its various components, and the people in France and America who completed the project. The museum has a theater and artifacts such as the original gold-plated torch and interactive panels for people to share their thoughts and impressions of the monument with others.
Pedestal – The pedestal of the statue is over a hundred feet tall and is made of stone. Many people who visit the monument make reservations to access the pedestal because it provides outdoor views of New York Harbor and a close look at the statue.
Crown- The crown is the statue’s highest point and is open to a limited number of visitors each day with reservations. Access to the statue’s torch and arm have been prohibited for over one hundred years. However, the 162-step spiral stairway leading to the crown provides a fascinating look at the interior framework of the statue along with views out to the borough of Brooklyn.
Ellis Island – Ellis Island is famous for the large federal immigration station where tens of millions of people from around the world first set foot in the United States and were processed for immigration. The National Museum of Immigration, located in a portion of the original buildings, has exhibits featuring the records of some immigrants and the wards where some arrivals were quarantined for medical treatment.
How to Get Here- For a complete Statue of Liberty experience, visitors must purchase ferry tickets from Statue City Cruise Ferry Service which is authorized to dock on Liberty Island and Ellis Island from points of origin in New York City and New Jersey. Other vessels provide boat tours which pass by the statue and give audio presentations to passengers about the monuments. The fastest and cheapest way to see the statue from the water is to book a one-hour roundtrip on the Staten Island Ferry which offers views of the Statue of Liberty coming and going.
When to Go- The Statue of Liberty is a dramatic site throughout the year, but weather conditions can affect the enjoyment of the grounds and views from the water. Visiting the Statue from May to October is likely to provide the best experience. Liberty Island is open from 9 to 5 seven days per week with access to the pedestal and crown limited late in the day.
Cost- There is no entrance fee for Liberty Island or Ellis Island, but all ferry services charge a fee. On the island, reservations are required to visit the crown and the pedestal.