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July 4, 2009: Lady Liberty's crown re-opens as Americans celebrate Independence Day
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PHOTO: MICHAEL A. HARRIS FOR EXAMINERCOM - NEW YORK
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HARRIS/EXAMINER - NY
At 7:45 a.m. in a moving ceremony on Liberty Island, seven members of the United States armed service, each representing a different branch and a different nation, were naturalized and received their certificates of citizenship from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. This was followed by the 9:15 a.m. ribbon cutting and then a ceremony honoring the re-opening of the Statue of Liberty's Crown.
"Just to be here on Liberty Island on Independence Day means so much to me," said Laurie Gibson of Staten Island, who was there with her husband and three children. They didn't even have tickets to enter the monument, but that didn't seem to bother her too much. "My grandmother game to this country through Ellis Island and I remember growing up, her telling me about how when she looked out the boat and saw the Statue of Liberty, she knew that her children would grow up in a land of liberty. It's just so great for me to be able to spend July 4 here with my children on Liberty Island."
Another visitor, Shams from Queens told me that he had waited in line more than two hours just to get on a ferry boat and another 45 minutes on line to get into the monument, but it didn't bother him.
"To be here on America's birthday is such an honor, I didn't mind waiting at all," he said. When he made it to the front of the line and showed the security officer his monument ticket and was told that he could enter the statue, but not ascend to the crown, he said it was a "mild disappointment," but it was a "thrill just to be here." He pulled out his cell phone and called to make a reservation to go to the top. "I'll come back in October. I'm really looking forward to it."
As this reporter looked at the lengthy line to enter the monument, he saw America. There were Jews and Muslims, Catholics and Protestants, black people, white people, Hispanic people and Asian people all lined up together under one category - Americans.
Elected officials participating in the ceremony included Governor David A. Paterson (D - New York), Governor John Corzine (D - New Jersey), Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I - New York City), Senator Robert Menendez (D - New Jersey), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D - New York/6) and Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D - New York/9).
As of publication, there are days booked solid for crown access from now through March 1, 2009, with openings starting during the week in mid-October.
Visitors to the statue must go through airport style security twice, once to get on the ferry and then again to access the museum located underneath the statue. The statue is open every day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day. During the summer the first ferries depart at 8:30 a.m. The last ferries depart from Liberty Island depart at 6:15 p.m. Hours are shorter after September 7. The ferry boat fees are $12 for adults (13 and over), $10 for senior citizens (62 and over) and $5 for children (4 - 12). Children under four may travel free, when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. While there is no charge to enter either island, there are limits as to how many people will be allowed into the statue on each day, so an advance ticket is advisable Ferries depart from both Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty Park in New Jersey. The United States Parks service advises purchasing tickets in advance, which are available at www.statuecruises.com.
For those wishing to make the trek up to the crown, an advance reservation is required and you must pay an additional fee of $3 per person and a limit of four tickets per person may be purchased. You must provide the names of all individuals for whom you are purchasing a ticket and unless your reservation is cancelled due to inclement weather or other safety concerns you and those who accompanied you will not be allowed to make a reservation for another six months.
The trek to the top is physically strenuous. It involves climbing up 354 steps in a narrow, cramped, double-helix spiral staircase with only six feet, two inches of height clearance. Since the statue has thick metal walls and is not air conditioned temperatures are often 20 degrees warmer than they are outside. No food or beverage is permitted inside the statue and there are no rest rooms. Visitors to the crown must be able to make the trip up completely unassisted and able to climb back down shortly thereafter without any assistance. For more information, read this important advisory on visiting the crown.
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