Is The Statue Of Liberty In New York Open

Statue Of Liberty Ellis Island & 9/11 Memorial Tour

Meet your guide at Battery Park and enjoy Fast Track priority boarding for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty on this 5-hour program. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the iconic copper Statue was built by Gustave Eiffel. Dedicated on 28 October 1886, it was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Visit the all-new Pedestal Museum, to learn more about this famous monument.Continue to Ellis Island, home to a federal immigration station that opened in 1892 and continued operations for more than 60 years before closing in 1954. Millions of immigrants passed through the station during that period. It is thought that at least 40% of all current United States citizens can trace one or more of their ancestors to Ellis Island.After returning to Battery Park, youll visit the National September 11 Memorial, the principal monument commemorating the terrorist attacks of …

Leeann was an amazing guide. Her knowledge of the history of New York was quite extensive. She gave 100 percent for 5 hours.I walked away with a much deeper understanding of how millions of immigrants came to this country.

Statue Of Liberty Arrives In New York Harbor

On June 17, 1885, the dismantled Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.

Intended to commemorate the American Revolution and a century of friendship between the U.S. and France, the statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi , with assistance from engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later developed the iconic tower in Paris bearing his name. The statue was initially scheduled to be finished by 1876, the 100th anniversary of Americas however, fundraising efforts, which included auctions, a lottery and boxing matches, took longer than anticipated, both in Europe and the U.S., where the statues pedestal was to be financed and constructed. The statue alone cost the French an estimated $250,000 .

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Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of Americas most famous landmarks. Over the years, it has been the site of political rallies and protests , has been featured in numerous movies and countless photographs, and has received millions of visitors from around the globe.

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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Design Style And Symbolism

Bartholdi and Laboulaye considered how best to express the idea of American liberty. In early American history, two female figures were frequently used as cultural symbols of the nation. One of these symbols, the personified Columbia, was seen as an embodiment of the United States in the manner that Britannia was identified with the United Kingdom, and came to represent France. Columbia had supplanted the traditional European personification of the Americas as an “Indian princess”, which had come to be regarded as uncivilized and derogatory toward Americans. The other significant female icon in American culture was a representation of Liberty, derived from Libertas, the goddess of freedom widely worshipped in ancient Rome, especially among emancipated slaves. A Liberty figure adorned most American coins of the time, and representations of Liberty appeared in popular and civic art, including Thomas Crawford‘s Statue of Freedom atop the dome of the United States Capitol Building.

The statue’s design evokes iconography evident in ancient history including the Egyptian goddess Isis, the ancient Greek deity of the same name, the Roman Columbia and the Christian iconography of the Virgin Mary.

Statue of Freedom

Statue Cruises Ticket Options

Purchase tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Reserve your tickets to guarantee access to the Statue of Liberty Pedestal. The only way to guarantee access to the interior of the Statue of Liberty National Monument is to book in advance.

Choose the Departure Location for Reserve Ticket

• New Jersey

  Ample parking for cars and buses. Easy access from the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 78.

• New York

  Easy access via public transportation, including major subway lines and bus routes.

NOTE:

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Ferry Tickets With Crown Access

Because of the pandemic, Statue of Libertys Crown tickets arent being sold.

The Crown Access ferry ticket gets you to the top of the Statue of Liberty, and you get to spend around ten minutes inside its crown.

You also get to explore the Pedestal and the Museum.

These tickets are ultra-premium during the peak summer months, only around 500 Crown tickets get sold per day.

These tickets are difficult to get, and during the summer months, they get booked six months in advance.

After all, only 0.4% of the days tickets sold are Crown tickets.

Because of this lack of availability, many visitors feel the Reserve tickets are better than Crown tickets.

If you really want to go up the Libertys Crown, we recommend reading up on how to score last minute Statue of Liberty Crown tickets.

And depending on the schedule, you may board any one of these to get to the Statue of Liberty.

New York: Edge & 9/11 Museum Ticket With Liberty Cruise

Make the most of your time in New York City with this combination ticket and scenic cruise package. Pick your tickets up at the 9/11 Memorial Museum then avoid the long waiting times and sail on in with your skip-the-line ticket. Inside, explore at your own pace and discover the story of 9/11 as told through artifacts, imagery, personal stories, and interactive technology.After the museum, walk over to Battery Park and the Brooklyn Bridge to join a one hour sightseeing cruise. Pass by New Yorks most iconic landmark, the Statue of Liberty, snap unforgettable vacation photos, and soak up panoramic views of the city skyline.Finally, visit the Edge and ride 1100 feet into the air to the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. From the deck, admire 360 degree views of New York City and admire iconic sights including Freedom Towers, the Empire State Building, Central Park, New…

It was perfect! Julie called me to reschedule Liberty Cruise due to a boat malfunction & reschedule cruise for the next day, so thoughtful!

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Starting Your Visit: Battery Park And Castle Clinton

A trip to Liberty and Ellis islands starts before you even get on the boat. When you get to Battery Park, walk around the open gardens and spend some time investigating Castle Clinton a historic fort from the War of 1812. Over the years, its been used as a theater, an aquarium, and the first immigration station in the country.

You might also see street performers and acrobats, so feel free to watch them as well. Be aware, though, that theyll expect a tip if you enjoyed the show.

Who Built & Designed The Statue Of Liberty

French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi along with French engineer Gustave Eiffel designed and built the Statue of Liberty. While Bartholdi is said to be the one designed the statue, Eiffel, who was responsible for the Eiffel Tower is the one who created the frame for the statue. History goes that Bartholdi had designed a statue similar to Lady Liberty to to commemorate the opening of Egypt’s Suez Canal. This monument was designed to be a woman holding up a torch over her head dressed in Arab peasant garb as Bartholdi was known to have been enamored with Egyptian pyramids. However, this did not work out hence the artist recycled his design, made the Arab garb into a Greco-Roman goddess and lo behold! the Statue of Liberty, as we know her, was born. There was a third person of American origin who helped make the Statue of Liberty too. Richard Morris Hunt was the American architect who designed the pedestal the statue is placed on.

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Climbing The Pedestal Pedestal Museum And Viewing Platform

Pedestal is the huge stone base on which the statue is standing. The pedestal itself is 89 feet tall. The pedestal has a museum and can go to the top of the pedestal to the balcony to see the spectacular views of the harbor. There are steps and elevator both inside the pedestal.

You need to reserve the ticket for the Pedestal in advance. Kids below the age of 4 dont require tickets.

The Statue Of Liberty

The iconic lady that stands tall in the cool waters of New York Harbor is a picture that symbolizes the United States of America.

The Statue of Liberty was gifted to Americans by people of France in 1886 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Americas independence . The monument is made up of steel and copper and is around 305 ft tall from the ground to the flame of the torch.

The statue gets its green color from the oxidization of the copper.

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Nyc: Statue Of Liberty 45

Departing from Downtown Manhattan in Battery Park, this 45-minute express is the fastest way to get up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty. The best views are definitely from the water and you’ll enjoy the insights of your fun, onboard tour guide with live narration.Begin your cruise experience at Battery Park’s Slip 6. Get your souvenir photo with Lady Liberty in the background while you wait. Board the vessel, sit back, and set sail on your round-trip sightseeing cruise. Bask in the panoramic view of downtown New York’s celebrated towers, memorials, and Landmarks while you relax on board the state-of-the-art boat. Cruise right over to see the Statue of Liberty, one of the most iconic symbols in the world. On your way to Lady Liberty, youll sail past and learn about Ellis Island, once home to the United States busiest immigration station, where approximately 12 million…

Damian was very knowledgeable and friendly, the captain was great. It was perfect amount of time to see Lady Liberty and take the perfect photos! Highly recommend!

Statue Of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour

• Roundtrip ferry service from Battery Park to Liberty and Ellis Islands
• Statue of Liberty grounds visit
• Entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum
• Entry to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum
• Ticket option ‘Guided Tour’: Fully guided tour in English
• Ticket option ‘Self-Audio-Guided Tour’: 30-minute English guided tour of Battery Park + audio guides in 9 languages for Liberty Island and Ellis Island

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Different Ways To Visit The Statue Of Liberty

Free Tours

If you hop on the Staten Island Ferry you can glide past the Statue of Liberty with a great view, best part being it is absolutely free of cost. All you have to do is, take a subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green and then take a free ferry ride across the harbour. The only disadvantage is that you don’t get to go inside the Statue of Liberty, up the crown or pedestal and neither will you get to visit the museum on Ellis Island. This ferry does not go too close to the Statue of Liberty and neither does it stop for photos near it, so keep your camera ready if you want good clicks.

Guided Tours

While entry to Ellis Island and Liberty Island are free, there is only one official ferry service that is allowed to land on the islands Statue Cruises. Hence, if you intend to do a guided tour or a self guided tour of the Statue of Liberty and go all the way up to the pedestal and crown, this is your best and only bet. There are different ticket categories in this which I will be delving into in the next section.

Harbor Cruise Tours

A Note To Our Valued Donors & Supporters

Liberty Island grounds and concessions are open with certain capacity restrictions in place. The Statue of Liberty Museum is open with some restrictions. The Statues Crown is currently closed, however the Pedestal is open with limited capacity.

The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is open with social distancing highly encouraged.

The American Family Immigration History Center is open daily 9:45am 3:30pm.

For updates about visiting Liberty and Ellis Islands, please visit the National Park Service and Statue City Cruises websites.

To check the status of an order, please fill out our form to Contact Us. Thank you in advance for your patience should we experience delays processing orders or responding to inquiries.

For generations, Liberty has been a beacon of hope during Americas most challenging times. Thank you for your continued support of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.

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Accessibility Of The Boats

Visitors who need assistance must contact the Ticket Office Manager as soon as they arrive at Battery Park or Liberty State Park.

Managers will ensure such visitors get ample assistance during the security screening and boarding the Statue Cruises ferry.

All boats are wheelchair accessible. However, they dont offer wheelchairs.

Statue Cruises personnel can help visitors on wheelchairs get off at the Islands and get back on the boat after their tour.

There are no handicapped-accessible restrooms on the boats.

However, Ellis Island and Liberty Island bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

More about Statue of Liberty

New York: Pier 36 Statue Of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise

Enjoy views of famous landmarks on the Manhattan skyline during a 60-minute sightseeing cruise. Depart from Pier 36 right under the Brooklyn Bridge then travel toward South Street Seaport and Battery Park. Get up close to within 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island for the most incredible photos opportunities. Admire views of One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park and more.Make the most of the full cash bar with snacks and drinks available to purchase on board. To round out your experience, you have the option to upgrade to the tour to include skip-the-line access to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Great value and water experience on a summer day. We treated our 3 grandchildren to this 1 hour cruise to see the Statute of Liberty and it was our grandson’s 8th birthday. Captain Ronnie was tremendously generous with his time, and even allowed our boy to sit in the captain’s chair while educating him about the captain’s job and his experiences navigating the boat. He made the experience unforgettable for our grandson and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you captain Ronnie!

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Ferry Timings From The Mainland

During the mid-March to mid-October high season, the first ferry from both Battery Park and Liberty State Park set sail at 8.30 am.

During the low season, the first ferry starts at 9 am.

And since the Statue of Liberty monuments closing hours differs throughout the year, the timing of the last ferry from the Mainland keeps changing.

You must try and avoid being on the last Statue of Liberty ferry from the Mainland.

The last ferry departing from Battery Park wont stop at Ellis Island. That is, you can only see the Statue of Liberty but not the Immigration Museum.

Tourists on the last ferry from Liberty State Park can choose which attraction they want to visit Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island Immigration Museum. They cant see both.

Clipper City Tall Ship Sunset Sail

Enjoy a romantic 2-hour harbor cruise of New York from on board the Clipper Citys spacious main deck or raised quarter deck. You will enjoy breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and many other gems of the harbor as you sail.A replica of the lumber-hauling schooners that drove Americas industry more than a century ago, Clipper City was built in the mid-1980s using plans purchased from the Smithsonian. Designed with her new cargo in mind you! her decks are spacious and comfortable with ample seating, a full bar amidships, and a raised quarter deck back aft that allows for unparalleled views of the city and its harbor.Order a drink from the full on-deck bar, sit back and relax, or help the crew raise the sails and take a turn at the helm on this idyllic cruise that evokes the days of old.

Booked Clipper City but that was cancelled & we were rebooked on the Shearwater. Great evening for a sail & lovely sunset. Crew were great

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