The Statue of Liberty itself was thankfully unharmed during Hurricane Sandy, but the island it sits on as well as the adjacent Ellis Island Immigration Museum did experience extensive damage, and so the National Park site has been closed since then.
The National Park Service has announced that the popular tourist attraction is set to reopen on the 4th of July, 2013.
The Statue's 126 year old iron framework designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel allowed for the Statue of Liberty to withstand the storm's intense winds. However, the Island's utilities, backup generator, and power systems were destroyed. The passenger and auxiliary docks were severely damaged and brick pathways have been uprooted around the Island. Repairs to both Ellis Island and Liberty Island ran close to $59 million.
When Hurricane Sandy hit on October 29, 2012, Liberty Island was in the direct path of a massive storm surge. Nearby in Battery Park, water rose 13.8 feet (4.2m). On Liberty Island, that meant nearly 75% of the Island was under water according to Statue of Liberty Superintendent David Luchsinger.
In the meantime, cruises from Manhattan and New Jersey around Liberty Island provide fantastic views as well as narrated historical information. http://www.StatueCruises.com
For hours of operation, please visit http://www.nps.gov
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