Seeing the Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty Fast Facts

Dedicated on October 28, 1886 "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and presented by France as a gift to the United States.

Statue of Liberty fun facts: Standing 151 feet high, and weighing in at 225 tons, Miss Liberty is made of copper, with a nose four and a half feet long and mouth three feet wide. Her waist measures 35 feet around.

Tickets & Admission : Purchase round trip ferry tickets at Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Price includes admission to the Statue of Liberty.

New York subway: for transport to Battery Park, take the 1 train to the South Ferry station, or the 4 or 5 train to the Bowling Green station.

Open daily 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. Hours are adjusted seasonally.

NOTE: A planned closing of the Statue of Liberty begins on October 29, 2011, the day after its 125th anniversary, which will allow a year-long renovation of the statue's antiquated interior stairways and elevators. Liberty Island will remain open and the statue itself will be unobstructed from view during the repair project.

The Statue of Liberty turns 125

Reaching a noteworthy milestone in 2011, the Statue of Liberty will be celebrated on its 125th anniversary on October 28, 2011 marking more than a century since Lady Liberty first opened to the public in 1866.

The event kicks off online, when a new webcam system is created to allow live views from the statue's famous torch, giving people around the world breathtaking views from 305 feet above New York Harbor starting on Friday, October 28.

The launch of the Statue of Liberty 'torch cam' is only part of the extravaganza being planned for the anniversary, which will include a naturalization ceremony in the morning, topped off with a Macy's fireworks spectacular that night.

The full 125th anniversary schedule is as follows:

8:45 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Naturalization ceremony. 125 people from more than 40 countries will be naturalized.

10 a.m.-noon: The main ceremony, which will feature a reading of Emma Lazarus' famous poem "The New Colossus" by actress Sigourney Weaver.

7:45 p.m.: Macy's Fireworks Grand Finale.

All About the Statue of Liberty

Whether traveling the Eastern Seaboard or direct into New York City, a visit to the Statue of Liberty is second only to the Empire State Building on the to-do list of tourists who flock to New York City by the millions each year.

Its sheer size makes it a landmark in New York Harbor, where it famously played a part in the experience of 19th century immigrants whose first glimpse of the U.S. was none other than Miss Liberty.

Built from designs by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France to the United States and dedicated on October 28, 1886.

A century later, she was the scene of wild celebration and fireworks displays at her centennial in 1986.

Now into the 21st century she continues to spark the imagination as an enduring symbol for freedom and democracy throughout the world.

Following the attacks of 9/11, the statue was closed to visitors for 3 years as new security measures were enacted to allow the Statue of Liberty to reopen in August 2004, with full access to the Promenade and observatory.

The statue's famous crown, which was finally opened to visitors on July 4, 2009 to great fanfare, allowed visitors full access to Miss Liberty and a sweeping view of New York Harbor through 25 windows at the statue's highest point.

In 2011, access to the interior will once again be curtailed as another renovation project gets underway. Meanwhile, regular ferry runs will continue to allow upclose views on Liberty Island during the countdown to the statue's reopening in 2012.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty

For many visitors and locals alike, a trip to the statue of Liberty begins with the subway on the IRT 1, 4 or 5 lines - which all converge at Battery Park or Bowling Green.

From there, it's just matter of following the "This Way to the Statue of Liberty" signs to buy tickets. $13 for adult general admission includes ferry service to and from Manhattan Island at Battery Park.

At its base, Liberty Island's 12 acres offers lots of room for picnics and family gatherings on its sprawling green lawns and park benches, along with 360-degree views of the surroundings including Manhattan Island, the New Jersey Hudson River shoreline, and Staten Island's Verazzano Narrows Bridge.

Inside, also be sure to view the Statue of Liberty museum featuring lots of interesting historical photos and interesting trivia and fun facts about Miss Liberty throughout her history.

The Statue of Liberty around the Web:

Statue of Liberty - The official site with information on how to get there, hours and admission, including historical facts, interesting trivia, photo gallery, and related resources for kids and teachers.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty - A peak inside the beloved figure, with information on museum highlights and related tips for visitors.

Statue of Liberty Webcam Live - How's she looking today?