Landmarks: The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty
What would a trip to New York be without a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? Raise your hand if you’re ready to hop on a ferry to sail to the foot of the proud woman monument! Are you ready to take a walk on Ellis Island, the historic islet that, for many years, was the last “bureaucratic obstacle” that immigrants had overcome before finally fulfilling their American dream, and finally setting foot on Manhattan soil.
In this blog post, we’d like to give you some useful advice on how to visit Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, two must-see monuments in New York City.
This visit requires careful preparation, so to avoid wasting too time with queues and what not.
What can you visit at the moment?
In this ‘reopening phase’, there are some changes in to access the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, here are the main ones:
What is open?
The path and space around the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty (Ground Access)
The Museum of the Statue of Liberty
The pedestal
Ellis Island and the National Museum of Immigration
The Crown Café
What is closed?
It is not possible to climb up to the crown of the statue (Crown Access)
The Liberty Island Information Center
What has changed?
Tickets for the ferry must be booked with a specific date and time.
A mask must be worn inside the premises.
The complete experience of the visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is described below, however we recommend giving priority to what has been mentioned above so you know what you’re getting into.
It takes time to visit the Statue of Liberty, a majestic 93-meter monument full of cultural and idealistic significance. A hit and run visit could be disappointing for many reasons, like not being able to enjoy, in addition to the statue itself, the breath-taking panorama of the Manhattan skyline.
The Statue of Liberty was transported to New York City in 1886 from Paris (where it was designed and built by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel – yes, that Eiffel!) It can be seen from all sides, in all its majesty, to the eyes of those who reach the island by boat, and can be visited on three levels (each with a different ticket):
Ground Only Access: You can walk around the statue without entering the pedestal or the top of the crown.
Pedestal Access: in addition to visiting the museum of the Statue of Liberty, you can climb to the top of the pedestal (Fort Wood level) to enjoy the view and look at the monument from the inside.
Crown Access: this access is limited and available only by reservation at a slightly higher price… it really has its own charm. In fact, with this precious ticket, you can climb up to the crown and take advantage of the phenomenal view that can be enjoyed from a height of 100 meters circa from the statue’s head.
From an organizational point of view, each type of visit has its own timing. We advise you to budget for at least one hour, excluding ferry time.
Statue of Liberty Museum
In May 2019, Liberty Island was enriched with the Statue of Liberty Museum, a museum dedicated to the history and deep symbolism of the Statue. The modern building, located behind the Statue of Liberty, replaces an exhibit that was previously located inside the pedestal: arriving by boat, you will find the museum on your left. The museum’s conceptual approach is very innovative and aims to create an engaging experience for visitors by dividing it into three sections, each with its own mission:
Immersive Theater: 10-minute multimedia experience with great impact. We find ourselves “surrounded” by videos and images that aim at letting us enter the historical story of the Statue of Liberty, through the narration of the ideals it represents. The performance also includes a virtual tour inside the statue.
Engagement Gallery: this section of the museum was designed to give an idea of the “behind the scenes” of the construction of the Statue. Imagine entering the workshop where this monumental American landmark was designed and built!
Inspiration Gallery: the most interesting attraction of the museum is located here. This is statue’s original torch, replaced in 1985 and now on display in a museum room bordered by stained glass windows that offer remarkable views of the monument and skyline. This space is interactive: those who wish to can create a self-portrait that composes a digital collage called “Becoming Liberty”.
From the building’s rooftop you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Statue and the Skyline. Start taking your best photos from here! Admission to the museum is free, the visit takes about 45 minutes.
Next week we’ll learn more about Ellis Island! Stay tuned!