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Climb to the Statue of Liberty's Crown

Published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” says a poem by Emma Lazarus in the museum in the base of the Statue of Liberty—a symbol of freedom to many around the world. Millions of people, for many decades, passed by the welcoming beacon as they completed the arduous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, seeking a better life in the New World on their way to Ellis Island. Today over three million people travel annually to visit the 111-foot-tall copper lady in New York Harbor; but only a handful of that number are allowed to make the climb to her crown. 

The Statue of Liberty was designed by Frenchman Frederic Bartholdi as a gift of friendship from the French people. With the help of Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the statue was constructed with two interior spiral staircases so visitors could reach the crown and look out on the surrounding city and harbour. They can then return to its base by a different route.

The statue was created in such a way that the load of Lady Liberty would be supported from the inside, so as to prevent damage and cracking to the copper exterior. Over time it has occasionally been necessary to close access for maintenance. 

After the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001, Liberty Island was closed for a period of time over security concerns. When it reopened at the end of the year, the pedestal and crown of the Statue of Liberty remained closed due to possible complications if an emergency evacuation was necessary. But, on July 4th 2009, American Independence Day, access to the crown was again possible, nearly five years after the pedestal was reopened. This was granted by order from the Secretary of the Interior and the Presidential administration; albeit on a very limited basis. 

Due to the economic depression that followed the Civil War, many people were not initially in favour of the Statue of Liberty’s construction. Although it was a gift by the French, the American citizens would have to foot the bill for the pedestal. It was written in the New York Times that "no true patriot can countenance any such expenditures for bronze females in the present state of our finances.”

New York World newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer initiated fundraising drives in an effort to complete the project, even offering to put the name of any person who donated in the paper. With the help of over 120,000 people who contributed less than a dollar, the dream became a reality and the Statue of Liberty was built upon a disused military fort on what was known as Bedloe’s Island. 

President Grover Cleveland, who dedicated the Statue of Liberty after presiding over a parade and ceremony on the island, stated that the statue’s “light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man’s oppression until Liberty enlightens the world.” Ironically, the ceremony was attended only by men, with the exception of two women: the granddaughter of the project’s French chairman, and Bartholdi’s wife. There was concern over the women being unable to protect themselves, and thus being crushed in the throngs of people on the island. 

The Statue of Liberty was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 because it is a "masterpiece of the human spirit" that "endures as a highly potent symbol… inspiring contemplation, debate and protest… of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy and opportunity." The spirit of such can be felt and experienced across Liberty Island, but no place more so than 354 stairs up in the Statue’s crown. The view of the city and the harbour from there reminds the visitor of these ideals, and what so many sought as they struggled across the Atlantic.

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Statue Of Liberty Crown

Since there's no air conditioning in the Statue of Liberty, and very little ventilation, the best time of year to the do the climb would be in the cooler fall or spring months. The heat inside the giant lady won't be as bad then, even though you'll still surely sweat on the climb, and you'll likely avoid many other tourists visiting Liberty Island on family summer vacations. The winter would be fine too, but only if you want to experience the bite of a New York City winter while visiting the rest of the city.

Odds n' Ends

There's no way around it, you MUST book tickets to do the Statue of Liberty crown tour in advance. There are an extremely limited number of tickets each day, so the sooner you reserve them the better. The only downside to this is that you don't know what the weather conditions will be like, or be able to necessarily account for other itinerary changes on the day you choose, quite possibly many months before your trip. 

Since there are 354 stairs in the climb, you need to be in somewhat reasonable shape in order to do this. But even more trying and difficult than the stairs, are the cramped conditions. The stairs are small and the walkway narrow, so if you have a fear of heights or are claustrophobic, or have a concern about slipping and falling down the stairs, it's probably best to enjoy Lady Liberty from the lower levels.

More Experiences Nearby

Cruise past the Statue of Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry shuttles commuters traveling between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan, providing one of the world's best free harbor cruises. Mingling with tourists and locals alike, going to and from work, the Staten Island Ferry is a truly authentic New York outing. As you step off the boat in Manhattan, walk a couple blocks through battery park and get on another ferry - this time to go up the Statue of Liberty and into the Ellis Island Museum. You'll find that the statue is much bigger than you first imagine it, and also more popular. Just beside the ...2 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Little Black Book of New York 2010
Off the Beaten (Subway) Track: New York City's Best Unusual Attractions
Lady Liberty: A Biography
The New York Times' Book of New York: Stories of the People, the Streets, and the Life of the City Past and Present

Elsewhere on the Web

Statue of Liberty - NPS.gov

Media References

Statue of Liberty’s Crown Will Reopen July 4 - NYTimes.com (blog)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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