A trip to New York City isn’t complete without visiting the Statue of Liberty, situated in New York Harbor, United States. It stands 305 feet tall and is made of copper as thin as two pennies.
The statue was first dull brown when she was revealed first. Then she developed a green patina over the years as it protects her from another environment. You can catch a glimpse of the statue in many ways, from the Manhattan Skyscraper to a helicopter and a ferry, but there is nothing like paying a visit to Lady Liberty herself.
Millions of people visit each year. The Statue of Liberty is designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. When you see any Hollywood movies that are taken in New York, they will show the Lady Liberty.
You might have seen a movie that involves a part of the Statue of Liberty having a mysterious clue to treasure. It is none other than “National Treasure – Book of Secrets.”
1. History of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French to America in 1886 as a representation of international friendship, but its story began more than 20 years earlier, in 1865 when the Frenchman Edouard De Laboulaye proposed that France create a monument for the United States. It would be a long time before his dream was realized. It wasn’t until ten years later that the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design the statue.
The Americans paid for the pedestal on which the statue would stand, while the French funded the Statue of Liberty. However, raising enough money was difficult. The statue was completed in France in 1884, almost ten years after it was commissioned, but the pedestal wasn’t finished for another two years.
The statue was transported in individual pieces packed in crates. Once the pedestal was completed, reassembling the statue took four months.
The Statue of Liberty became a famous place, symbolizing the idea of freedom that America was built on.
The statue depicts a woman in a robe, representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She has a crown on her head with seven points, said to represent the seven seas or the seven continents of the earth. She is holding a stone tablet in one hand, honouring the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On her other hand, she has a flaming torch covered in gold leaf.
If you enter, you can see a poem by Emma Lazarus which is more familiar to the people and politicians and called The New Colossus.
2. Visiting the Crown of the Statue of Liberty
If you want to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty, you need to go to the websites and book before two months. There is a ferry that will take you to Liberty Island, and it is quite affordable. The ride is almost 10 minutes, and you can enjoy it.
Due to the pandemic, all public operations at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were closed. But after two and a half years, the public can access it.
It is essential to note that if you are a pedestal ticket holder, walk in the lane meant for you. You will find some lockers at 25 cents where you can keep your backpacks, food/drinks, and strollers, which are not allowed.
You can feel safe while going as they have lots of security screening. All they require is your cooperation.
2.1. Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty
The pedestal is the first stop of the statue. You get two options here that is you can take the stairs or an elevator to the pedestal. When you hear the word lift, people tend to use it, so you will find it a bit crowded, so do use the stairs.
Make sure when you get to the top of the pedestal, you look up. There are 176 steps to the top of the pedestal. Your tiredness from the walk will be worth it, and find a fantastic view of Manhattan from there.
2.2. Inside the Crown – The Climb to the Top
There are 146 steps to get to the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Only 400 people per day with crown tickets can access the crown. The steps are really small, so watch every single step that you take. The steps are narrow, which makes you feel trippy. That is the reason why they don’t want you to carry your bags.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed the interior of the Statue of Liberty. This name might be familiar as the Statue was opened three years later, and the Eiffel Tower was opened in Paris.
When you reach the crown, you will hear the shaking and wind noises. You can see and feel the structure of her hair and how thin it is. You can see her arm holding the torch. You can see Brooklyn and Staten Island.
If you are claustrophobic, climbing to the top isn’t meant for you. The staircases were modified in the 80s as they had holes and cracks. You will find park rangers at the top, who will guide you and make sure you ask them questions. From the crown, you will get a fantastic view. Do visit, especially during the winter.
You will get a tremendous snow view from the top. The rangers will give you enough time to see, but you don’t want to make it a bit crowded.
While going downwards, make sure you walk slowly and sideways as it is a spiral staircase.
2.3. Restricted Items
- No backpacks, food, or drinks are allowed inside the Statue of Liberty.
- Minor children under 2 feet tall are not allowed in the crown.
- Visitors should have no physical or mental conditions during the climb.
2.4. Things to Know Before Booking Your Statue of Liberty Tickets
- You will need a ferry to get to the Statue of Liberty, from which you can buy tickets.
- Remember, your ferry tickets will have tickets to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
- Book your tickets in advance at least 3 hours before your unplanned visit.
- There will be a security screening before you take the ferry, so please cooperate. Huge bags, weapons, and sharp objects are prohibited.
- Arrive as early as possible because the ferry gets crowded very soon and mainly visit during the mid-week.
- Avoid during holidays due to the crowd.
- Pets are allowed on the sightseeing cruise only.
- If you take a guided tour package, it will include all the attractions to see.
3. Statue of Liberty Museum
Do take a visit to the museum that will tell you the history of how the Statue of Liberty was constructed. Your tickets will grant access to the museum as well. You can see the original torch which was taken down in 1984. They have a very cool interactive exhibit where you take a picture and say where you are from, and they will put you on a big screen where a part of you will always live in the museum.
4. Ellis’s Island
A long time ago 12 million immigrants came to Ellis Island and the first thing they saw was the Statue of Liberty. The island had a main immigration hall and now it is turned into an immigration museum. Ellis Island was the first stop for millions of immigrants coming to America. You can book guided tours to learn more about the island and museum. It is also called the “door of America.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, no matter how you choose to put your visit together, you will walk away with a better understanding of the United States’ history. There is so much to take in when you visit a city that never sleeps. But there is nothing more iconic and significant than the Statue of Liberty. I hope that the next time someone having a conversation about New York City will immediately jump into the Lady Liberty.
Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani
