Statue of Liberty Crown Re-Opening July 4,2009
A Must-See Independence Day New York/New Jersey Attraction
May 10, 2009
The Statue of Liberty, America’s symbol of freedom, was ironically shut down and public access restricted in the wake of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and four hijacked commercial passenger jet airliners. While the reason for the closure originally cited was the need to keep the National Monument secure from possible further attacks, it became readily apparent that it’s ongoing closure was prolonged due to much needed maintenance and repair.
Statue of Liberty Safety Restoration and Rehabilitation Funding
It was no secret prior to September 11th that our Lady Liberty was already in desperate need of funding for safety restoration. Neither was it the first time the statue had economic troubles.
In an ongoing theme since her inception in 1886, her arrival came ten years delayed from her intended completion date because there was not enough money to deliver her as scheduled.
In 1982, the statue received a facelift via investment from The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (SOLEIF), founded by Lee Iaccoca, then Chairman for Chrysler Corporation, after his appointment to spearhead the effort by President Ronald Reagan. The private fundraising effort in cooperation with the National Park Service was able to refurbish the monument with funds raised through what remains today the most successful public/private partnership in American history.
After re-opening the newly restored statue on July 5,1986 celebrating her centennial, the statue’s safety was again re-addressed amidst her growing popularity. In the year 2000, the statue itself was declared a fire hazard having inadequate emergency exits to accommodate the crowds that would gather on the long winding staircase leading to the crown. The September 11th attacks settled the question of her imminent closure.
Re-Opening of the National Monument Pedestal
After previous reports that the statue would never open again, several safety, security, and technological issues were addressed and resolved and access to the pedestal was announced. The Statue of Liberty was re-opened for the second time, albeit not the interior of the statue itself, in the summer of 2004 on August 3rd. With the crown shuttered, visitors were allowed access (after advanced security screenings) to tour the Statue of Liberty Museum located inside the pedestal, view the architectural interior of the structure through a newly installed glass ceiling, and enjoy 360 degree views from the observation deck.
The Significance of the Liberty Crown
With the crown closure, tourism to Liberty Island shrank by an estimated forty percent. The crown in the company of its seven rays, each representative of one of the seven continents, the seven seas and mirroring the seven letters found in the words America and Liberty, is a treasured symbol to all those who have been inspired by her and helped to pay for her. The National Park Service saw a need to bring back tourism and find a way to reinstate access to the crown as a tribute to the people whose ideals she represents.
The Statue's Crown Window Opening
With the anticipated crown opening scheduled for July 4th, 2009, it is expected that tickets to Liberty Island and Monument Access will go fast. In order to reduce stress on the statue, tickets will be given out in limited numbers and will have timed entry. To learn more about how to gain access on this special occasion, visit the National Park Service website. Be sure to hurry, as the window for this offer will close again in two years at which time more permanent safety and security improvements will be sought.
The Statue of Liberty Crown Opening will take place on July 4, 2009 and will be closed for further improvements in 2011.
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