What You Will See
When you enter, you pass through a space dedicated to donors who contributed $2 million or more to this museum which cost over $100 million to construct.
After that, you enter the first gallery called Immersive Theater. It is a seatless theater where you can wander through the space while a 10-minute film plays on a loop.
The film is about the Statue of Libertys construction and also its status as a symbol of hope and freedom.
The next gallery is the Engagement Gallery which brings to life the 19th-century Parisian workshop of the statues sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
There are recreations of his models for the statue as well as a scale-size replica of the statues copper foot.
The last space is the Inspiration Gallery that has digital kiosks where visitors can take photo self-portraits with backdrops of images that symbolize liberty to them.
These photos are added to a growing collage of inspirational images to an ever-growing digital experience called Becoming Liberty.
The last space you pass through holds an especially moving object. The original 3,600-pound copper flame that sat atop the torch, which was replaced in 1984.
The Statue of Liberty Museum is highly recommended. Plan time into your visit to Liberty Island as you will not want to miss this special museum.
The Best Ways To See Statue Of Liberty
The obvious way to see the Statue of Liberty is by visiting Liberty Island! In order to see her up close, explore the pedestal or even enter the crown, you need to take the ferry to the island. Another increasingly popular way to see the statue of liberty is by taking a cruise around New York. There are plenty of cruises that pass Lady Liberty, providing you with the perfect photo opportunity. Although these are all great options to get fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty, there are several spots in New York City for you to enjoy amazing views of the Statue of Liberty for free!
Lighthouse Board And War Department
When the torch was illuminated on the evening of the statue’s dedication, it produced only a faint gleam, barely visible from Manhattan. The World characterized it as “more like a glowworm than a beacon.” Bartholdi suggested gilding the statue to increase its ability to reflect light, but this proved too expensive. The United States Lighthouse Board took over the Statue of Liberty in 1887 and pledged to install equipment to enhance the torch’s effect in spite of its efforts, the statue remained virtually invisible at night. When Bartholdi returned to the United States in 1893, he made additional suggestions, all of which proved ineffective. He did successfully lobby for improved lighting within the statue, allowing visitors to better appreciate Eiffel’s design. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt, once a member of the New York committee, ordered the statue’s transfer to the War Department, as it had proved useless as a lighthouse. A unit of the Army Signal Corps was stationed on Bedloe’s Island until 1923, after which military police remained there while the island was under military jurisdiction.
Oral histories of immigrants record their feelings of exhilaration on first viewing the Statue of Liberty. One immigrant who arrived from Greece recalled:
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The Best Way To See Statue Of Liberty Nyc
After getting engaged in Central Park, we headed over to see the Statue of Liberty.
The glorious Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France. It is a symbol of freedom and democracy.
Initially, we were unsure what was the best way to see it and after doing some research, we found the best way to see the iconic Statue of Liberty in NYC.
So you are free to decide for yourself what is the best way to see it, we will outline all of your options to see Lady Liberty below:
Statue Of Liberty Visit
Hi all
I’ve prebooked tickets for a statue of liberty visit in december from battery park.The tickets say 10am which I understand is the time to enter security for the ferry.Does anyone know if this is the time we should actually turn up or are there long queues that we have to join before even entering security?
many thanks
We were booked on the 10am Ferry in October. We got down there about 9:30ish perhaps slightly earlier, and pretty much went straight through security. It was all pretty easy and we got good seats on the boat so that we could photograph Manhattan as we moved away from it, and the Statue as we moved towards it.
+1 for Cavalier’s advice about turning up about half an hour before.
But if you have Crown tickets you’ll need to collect these from Castle Clinton first.
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The Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a commuter ferry that travels between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. On its way, it passes the Statue of Liberty. The distance is about half a mile . The ferry is completely free at all times, meaning you do not only get a free ferry ride, but also a free glance at the Statue of Liberty. The ferry departs regularly throughout the day. You can check out the Staten Island Ferry schedule beforehand.
- Address: Ferry from Whitehall Terminal at 4 Whitehall St
- Directions: 1 to South Ferry
Are Liberty Island And Ellis Island Ferries Both Included In My Ticket
Ellis Island the Island of Hope and Tears.
Youve already picked up on this Im sure but your ticket to visit the Statue of Liberty actually provides you with access to two islands:
- Liberty Island for the Statue of Liberty and
- Ellis Island which, in the words of Statue cruises, Ellis Island, known as the Island of Hope and Tears, was the largest gateway for millions of immigrants looking for a new beginning and a new life for their families in America.
Visiting Ellis Island is obviously as optional extra and if you dont want to visit, just head straight back to Battery Park or Liberty State Park after youre done seeing the Statue of Liberty. That said, Id highly recommend taking the time to see both.
So, thats what you need to know about visiting the Statue of Liberty without a tour.
If all of that the ticket buying and ferry planning suddenly feels like too much effort, the tour I recommended above is good value at $50.
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Pick Your Ticket In Advance
Statue Cruisesthe authorized ferry operator to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islandoffers three types of tickets, to the crown, for the pedestal, and to access reserve grounds only. If you want to visit the crown, buy early. There are a limited number of tickets available each day , they sell out quickly, and they cant be purchased at the ticket office or on Liberty Island.
An e-ticket in advance lets you bypass the ticket line but everyone waits in airport-like security . And dont forget: Only small bags are allowed. There are lockers for larger items, but they require cash for use.
How Much Time To Devote
How much time you will need will depend much on what time of the year you are there and what time of day you choose. It also depends on whether you have pedestal and crown tickets.
The ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island depart every 15-20 minutes.
The first ferry departs at 8:30 am in the high season and 9:00 am in the low season and the last ferry departs at 4:00 pm in the high season and 3:30 pm in the low season.
The last ferry from Liberty Island departs at 5:00 pm in the low season and 5:45 pm in the high season. The same goes for ferries from Ellis Island.
We can’t stress this enough. Plan to get here as early as possible, preferably by 8:00 am.
As you can see in the Google popular times image below, crowds are significantly smaller in the early morning hours.
If you plan to visit both islands and take in all the sites you need to allow yourself enough time to see everything without having to rush through your day.
Expect to spend 4-5 hours for security, ferry rides, and visiting both islands if you only have general admission.
The earlier you are here, the shorter the amount of time you will spend.
According to Statue Cruises, tickets for 2:00 pm or later will only afford you adequate time to visit either Liberty Island or Ellis Island, not both.
You need to allow for a minimum of 5-6 hours in order for you to see everything, especially if you have pedestal or crown tickets.
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My Favourite New York Guide Books
Although my guidebooks failed me when I was trying to figure out how to visit the Statue of Liberty, I love the compact size and condensed information in the Lonely Planet Pocket New York City Guide. If youre looking for a more detailed guide, Lonely Planet has one.
Otherwise, the DK guidebooks for New York are excellent.
I hope that was useful but if you still have any questions , drop me a line in the comments belowand have a great timing visiting the Statue of Liberty.
Visiting Without A Tour Buying Tickets
In this section Ill cover how to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York by yourself i.e. how to get to Liberty Island theres quite a lot of information in here but as youll come to realise, getting to see Lady Liberty isnt quite as simple as turn up, buy ticket, take photo.
Stick with me. Ill try to make it as painless as possible.
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The Ferry At Battery Park
Local 1 to the last stop South Ferry. Express 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. Local R/W train from Brooklyn/Queens to Whitehall Street.
M1, M6 or M15 to South Ferry .
From the East Side take the FDR Drive South to Exit 1, South Ferry/Battery Park. From the West Side take the Westside Highway South to Battery Park. NOTE: Street and private garage parking is limited in the Battery Park neighborhood.
The Ferry At Liberty State Park
Take exit 14-B off the New Jersey Turnpike follow signs to Liberty State Park. Ample parking is available in Liberty State Park, for a nominal fee.
Take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the Liberty State Park Station walk or bike one mile along Audrey Zapp Drive to the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park. The HBLR is accessible via PATH at the Hoboken Station or Newport Station.
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How Did They Pay For The Statue Of Liberty
President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, as a gift from France and a sign of mutual friendship. The 151-foot-tall Statue cost $250,000, paid for by the French. The pedestal, at 154 feet, cost $270,000 paid for by American sources.
Nyc: Statue Of Liberty Ellis Island & Pre
Learn all about the unique history of Battery Park on a 30-minute guided tour with an experienced local guide. Located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, the 25-acre green park has a varied history and many classic monuments to explore.Find out essential facts surrounding the Battery Cannon, Battery Oval, Coast Guard Memorial, Bosque Gardens and the circular Bosque Fountain. Finish up the walking tour at Castle Clinton, built in anticipation of the War of 1812. Positioned in the middle of the park, the castle acts as a centerpiece of the revitalization efforts of the park. Your guide will then assist you through the various procedures to board the ferry for Liberty Island. Benefit from priority boarding and save precious time.Cross New York Harbor to the Statue of Liberty. Built by Gustave Eiffel, Lady Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Take a se…
This was a great trip for a great price. Our guide, her name is Isabella I believe made the tour so much better. She is highly knowledgeable and very witty and funny. We loved the experience. I would highly recommend.
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Benefits Of Visiting The Statue Of Liberty Without A Tour
- Its cheaper.
- You can wander at your own pace.
- With my instructions below on how to get tickets and get around the islands, I have everything you need in this article to create your own Statue of Liberty tour.
- When you get to Liberty Island there is a superb free Ranger tour you can join that gives even the nerdiest of visitors the facts and figures they need.
However, for those who would prefer to keep their visit as easy as possible from the outset, there are also a number of highly-rated guided tours on offer.
Statue Of Liberty: How Long Does It Take
We are thinking of taking the ferry to Liberty Island and not going inside the Statue. However,
I’ve recently heard rumors of it taking people 6 hours to do this. Is that true? Are there long waits just to get off the island even if you decide not to wait in the line to get into the Statue?
It doesn’t take 6 hours as long as you do it first thing in the day. The first ferry leaves at 9.30am so you need to be in the line for the ferry at about 8.45am to get on that first boat.
If you do Ellis Island and the statue, plan to be back at Battery Park around 2pm if only doing the Statute, you could be back by 12.
If you’re not planning on exploring the statue, you might be content with taking the STATEN ISLAND FERRY from the South Ferry Station to Staten Island. The ferry passes by the statue. The ride is 30 minutes and you can return immediately to Manhattan . Just google “staten island ferry” for schedules.
I just went to Liberty and Eliis island. There were no line buying tickets at Castle Clinton, maybe 20 minutes to get through security check at the harbour and from there it was a maybe 15-20 minute boat ride to Liberty island. So I can’t understand how this can take 6 hours.
Regards
Thanks for the advice. I guess I was concerned
that there would be droves of people waiting to get off of liberty island and having to wait for multiple ferries to come get them.
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Visit The Statue Of Liberty The Easy Option
If youre short on time , youre almost certainly going to want to take a tour. Your guide will sort out the tickets, ferries and take you on a guided tour of Liberty and Ellis Island. All you need to do is turn up at the meeting point.
My suggestion: book this Statue of Liberty tour. Its the one I suggest to my friends. The tour has a few options. I reccommend you take the 9 a.m., 4-hour tour with priority line access so you skip the crowds and queues. Also, opt for Pedestal Access if you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty . Price $49.
You cant upgrade to Crown Access with this tour but I went into the crown and wasnt that impressed its a lot of steps in a very tight space. Crown tickets are very hard to get hold of so most tours dont offer it. If you want to access the Crown, youll have to arrange the trip yourself, but dont worry, I have all the info you need below.
How Do I Book Statue Of Liberty Tickets
Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island are part of the National Park Service and are therefore free to enter BUT you still need to get there by taking the Statue of Liberty ferry, which is basically what the ticket price covers. By the way the Staten of Liberty Ferry and the Ellis Island Ferry are the same ferry. I show a map below.
There is only one official ferry company thats allowed to land you on the islands Statue Cruises.
The official Statue Cruises website is here.
A word of warning about ticket touts
Id highly recommend book directly with statue cruises. If you dont, youll end up paying more dollars for..well, no reason other than the ticket companys profits. As an example, the above company charges $25 and $28 for what should be $19.25 and $22.25 tickets. You dont even get a free bumper sticker thrown in.
Stick with the official provider: Statue Cruises.
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Book Statue Of Liberty Tours
As Ive mentioned above, taking a Statue of Liberty tour is a very good option because its pretty complicated to plan it on your own and the tours arent that much more expensive. If you absolutely must access the crown, youll have to plan the trip yourself so you can skip past this section.
Here are my suggested tour options in order of recommendation .