Statue of Liberty's crown FINALLY reopens to visitors two-and-a-half years after COVID shuttered the iconic NYC monument's viewing platform
- The Statue of Liberty's crown reopened Tuesday to visitors for the first time after being closed since 2020 due to the COVID pandemic
- Visitors once again are able to walk up the 162 narrow steps to reach the crown, the highest point in the monument
- A spokesperson with National Park Service told DailyMail.com that 'today was a soft opening with limited ticket availability through the end of October'
- Ticket prices run from $24.30 for a single adult ticket (adults 13+); $12.30 children (4-12), and $18.30 for seniors (62+).
- Those wanting to visit the crown are encouraged to book a reservation since spots are filling up fast
A celebration is in order: the Statue of Liberty's crown reopened to visitors on Tuesday for the first time since 2020 when it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visitors once again are able to walk up an interior staircase and experience Lady Liberty in all her glory.
The reopening was announced on the NYCgo tourism group’s Instagram page that features photos of Lady Liberty.
Jerry Willis, a spokesperson with the National Park Service, Statute of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island told DailyMail.com that 'today was a soft opening with limited ticket availability through the end of October.
'We will be doing an official crown reopening on October 28, the 136th anniversary of the statue's dedication in 1886,' Willis said.
From the top of the pedestal, it is 162 narrow steps to an observation area to reach the statue's crown, the highest point in the monument. And, from the bottom of the pedestal, it is 377 steps.
There are no elevators so visitors need to be patient and proceed with caution during the climb.
The majestic figure that was gifted by France in 1886 and dedicated to freedom and liberty for the United States stands just over 305 feet from the ground to the tip of the flame - and is the equivalent height of a 22-story building.
Visitors once again will now be able to walk up an interior staircase - 162 narrow steps - to an observation area to reach the statue's crown, the highest point in the monument, and experience Lady Liberty in all her glory
The crown's reopening is exciting news for tourists and New Yorkers. Before the pandemic, approximately, 4 and a half million people visited the Statue of Liberty annually, the spokesperson said
A breathtaking photo of Lady Liberty behind the lush purple and pink skies
Before the pandemic, approximately, four and a half million people visited the Statue of Liberty annually, the spokesperson said.
The crown's reopening is exciting news for tourists and New Yorkers - who up until now - had limited access due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Liberty Island and Ellis Island - which the latter served as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station for 62 years - were closed in March 2020. They were partially reopened in July 2020, followed by the museums on both islands in August 2020.
The statue's pedestal and observation deck reopened on July 1, 2021, the spokesperson said.
Ticket prices run from $24.30 for a single adult ticket (adults 13+); $12.30 children (4-12), and $18.30 for seniors (62+).
Ticketholders get a round-trip ferry service to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, access to the crown and to the Fort Wood section of the pedestal. In addition, admission into the 26,000-square-foot Statue of Liberty Museum that takes visitors through the national monument's history and displays the statue's original torch.
Before visitors board the ferry, they undergo an airport-style security screening process. There is also a secondary screening required for visitors entering the monument. And, the waters around Liberty and Ellis Island are a restricted water zone, CNN reported.
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Ferry service to the Statue of Liberty leaves from New York and New Jersey.
Statue City Cruises, is the 'only' authorized ticket seller and ferry transportation provider for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the spokesperson said.
Those visitors are warned against using other ferry services that claim to go there.
Guests from New York can catch the ferry from Castle Clinton National Monument located at Battery Park City. And those departing from New Jersey can take the ferry from Liberty Park at 1 Audrey Drive in Jersey City.
Those looking to visit the statue are encourage to book ticket reservations in advance, as spots are filling up fast.
The spokesperson told DailyMail.com that typically tickets are limited to 50 visitors per hour and visiting hours change seasonally - so this time of year it's approximately 250 tickets per day.
To book your visit to the Statue of Liberty visit the City Experiences website or phone 877-523-9849.
US Sailors and Marines stand on the flight deck of the USS Bataan as the ship passes the Statue of Liberty during Fleet Week in New York Harbor on May 25, 2022
Statue of Liberty: The French connection
Frenchman Edouard de Laboulaye first proposed the idea of a monument dedicated to freedom and liberty for the United States in 1865.
It was agreed that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and its assembly here in the United States.
The Statue was completed in France in July 1884 and arrived in New York Harbor in June 1885 aboard the French frigate 'Isere.' In transit, the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates.
The Statue was reassembled on the pedestal in four months' time. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland oversaw the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886. It stands just over 305 feet tall
The Statue is 305 feet, 1 inch from the ground to the tip of the flame. It is the equivalent height of a 22-story building. In 1886, it was the tallest structure in New York.
Visitors can climb an interior staircase to an observation area inside the statue's crown. The torch has been closed since the 'Black Tom' explosion of July 30, 1916, which was one of the largest acts of sabotage to the nation prior to the event of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue of Liberty's torch symbolically lights the way to freedom showing us the path to Liberty.
Even the Statue's official name represents her most important symbol: 'Liberty Enlightening the World'.
The Statue's current replacement torch, added in 1986, is a copper flame covered in 24K gold.
It is reflective of the sun's rays in daytime and lighted by 16 floodlights at night. The original torch was removed in 1984 and has been put on display in the new museum on Liberty Island.
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