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Location : Liberty Island ( ferry from Battery Park )
Phone : (212) 363 3200
Admission : Adults $7, Children $3
Hours : Jul - Aug = 9.30am - 5.30pm
Hours : Sep - Jun = 9.30am - 5pm
Hours : Closed Christmas
Hours : Last ferry departs to statue around 3.30pm
Subway : 1,9,N,R to South Ferry Station. 4,5 to Bowling Green Station

At this time, only the grounds on Liberty Island are open to the public. The Statue, museum exhibit, pedestal, and crown remain closed indefinitely. Updated visitor and security guidelines .

General

Probably the best known and most widely recognised symbol of New York and the United States. Located in New York harbour on Liberty Island it has stood as symbol of the ideals and aspirations of immigrants and nationals alike.

The Statue is a gift from the French people and was unveiled by President Grover Cleveland on 28 October 1886.The Statue was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi who intended the Statue to be symbol of Franco-American relations and glorify the republic and liberty found in America.

The Statue stands 93 metres ( 305 foot ) from the ground to the torch and weighs over 225 tonne. 354 steps lead from the entrance to the crown, which  is the highest level that is available to visitors. The frame was designed by Gustave Eiffel who later built the Eiffel tower in Paris. Bartholdi's mother was used for the model. The Statue is covered with copper sheeting being about 2.5 millimetres thick and has turned a pale shade of green over the years due to the effects of weathering. The seven points of the crown are designed to represent the seven seas. The toga recalls the age of the Roam empire and the birth of republic ideas. The tablet in the Statue's left hand bears the inscription " July 4, 1776".

The Statue was refurbished in 1986 for $69.8 million with the original torch being replaced with a new 24 carat golf leaf one. The original torch now resides in the main lobby.

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Looking out to New Jersey from the Pedestal

Visiting

To actually visit the Statue of Liberty you will need to get there via ferry. Tickets for the Statue of Liberty ( and Ellis Island ) ferry are available in the centre of Castle Clinton which is located in Battery Park at the southern most tip of Manhattan. Tickets include a once only round trip to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ferries leave for Liberty Island from the piers at Battery Park every half hour from 9am - 3.30pm weekdays and 9am - 4.30pm weekends. The last ferry back normally runs at 5.15pm but be sure to check.

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Lady Liberty on approach

Left or Right ?

Once on Liberty Island the quicker that you head for the entrance (at the rear of the base ) the less people you will have to wait behind. You will need to queue to enter the Statue and pass through a metal and X-ray detectors. Once past this point you are presented with two options, the left side is the only way to get to the crown.
Left : It is all stairs, 354 or 22 stories' worth in most cases narrow and winding, the final climb up the internal structure of the Statue is very cramped and can involve a very long wait. In some cases it may take two to three hours of waiting to actually get to the crown, so if you really want to get there be prepared for a long wait, especially if you are not on one of the early boats. When you actually reach the crown be prepared for some pretty unspectacular views of the Brooklyn docklands. It is much the same sort of view you would get looking out of a airplane window, but at least you can say that you have actually been there.

View from the Crown

Right : This side is much quicker and is for an elevator to the observation deck atop the pedestal. From the deck you can get some fantastic views of Manhattan and the harbour. If you think that you can use the elevator to get part way up to the crown - forget it - it is not possible at all !

Other Attractions

Apart from climbing the Statue there is the Liberty Museum located on the second level ( the one just above the entrance ). This contains many artefacts and information about the Statue, its creator, creation and history and is well worth a look.
On the third level is an immigration exhibit that provides an excellent introduction to the Ellis Island immigration museum ( the next stop on the Ferry ).
Another worthwhile side trip is to walk around the boundary of the island, you get great views of the liberty and Manhattan.
There is also a gift shop and cafe located near the end of the pier, there are also restrooms and public phones located close by.

Leaving

When you are ready to leave you will need to proceed back to the pier at which you arrived. Once again you will have to line up to get on the ferry. Be warned that the lines for the ferry can get quite long and you may even have to wait for the next ferry. When the ferry has arrived and disembarked passengers you will be able to board. Once aboard the ferry will continue onto the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration.

Summary

Be warned that the Statue of Liberty is easily one of the most popular attractions in the city. Not only are there people from all around the world but from all over the United States. If you are really keen to climb to the top of the crown it is recommended that you arrive on one of the first ferries from Battery Point and even so be prepared for a long wait in crowded and cramped conditions. Also be prepared for long waits for ferry rides both to and from the Statue, the earlier you get in the queue the better chance you will have. If you plan to see both the Statue and Ellis Island a whole day should be allowed to view both thoroughly as they are both well worth the visit. Having been to one of the most widely recognised structures in the world you get the feeling that all the waiting was worth it !