The statue is a must for first time New York guests! First you will take a fairy over to the island, making a stop at Ellis Island, at one time the first stopping point for every immigrant coming into the US. This is such an amazing experience. I must warn you that the lines for the statue are usually two to four hours long, so if you are planning on going and don't want to wait in line, find out what time the statue opens and be one of the first people! But go, just to say you have!

The Status of Liberty is a must see in New York for two reasons. One is that the Statue itself is an icon of America. Secondly, the view of the Manhattan skyline from the ferry is incredible. My recommendation is to get in line two hours before departure to secure a seat. Tickets can be purchased a head of time at this website, but you must still wait in line to present your ticket. If you do not mind you may be able to take the ferry to the Statue on a rainy cold day. I did this on a Saturday and there was no line. The stairs up the Statue were closed, but this is a great option if you are on a crunched timeline.

Liberty holds high the Torch of Enlightment and carries the Book of Law incribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence. The 7 rays of her crown correspond with the the 7 seas and 7 continents of the world. She stands majestically welcoming all to our country 1250 feet and weighing in at 250 tons, I feel skinny in her presence. Compartively with her 35' waist and 3'wide mouth and 8' long index finger I AM tiny. From a distance or up close and personal she is awesome. Be prepared to stand in long lines... she's been weathering for 100+ years, causing a rich patina to form over her copper skin, if you begin to turn greenish, you might then get impatient.

The Statue of Liberty was the second stop of our Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty "tour". SEE THE ELLIS ISLAND JOURNAL ENTRY FOR INFO ON THE LOCATION AND FERRY INFO. Unfortunately, only the grounds are open for visitation (Hours 9:30am-5:15pm - longer during summer months). For security reasons the Monument, Museum, Crown, and all Monument Observation Decks are closed indefinitely. There are ranger guided talks/tours of the grounds, however. There is also a nice gift shop and you get wonderful views of the NY City Skyline from the Island.

The Statue, located in the NY Harbor, was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the U.S.A. The Statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. It is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy; and is a MUST SEE if you are in this area. It was one of the highlights of our trip to the East Coast. Our 5yr old son, to this day, gets EXTREMELY excited when he sees the Statue of Liberty on TV or in a photograph. I must admit, I STOOD IN COMPLETE AWE WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS STATUE. Even though you can not go inside the statue, it is a very worthwhile place to visit.

Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, was a centennial gift from the people of France for as a symbol of friend ship towards the US. Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned for the statue.

There are ferry departures from Battery Park; New York; or Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

Access to the crown and torch are no longer accessible. A guided time pass is now required.

Take the New York subway to Battery Park: no. 1 or 9 trains to the South Ferry station, no. 4 or 5 trains to the Bowling Green station, or the N/R train to the Whitehall Street station.

Take the New Jersey bus to Liberty State Park: Central Avenue bus from platform A3 at the Journal Square Terminal in Jersey City to Liberty State Park.

Hours: 8:30am to 5pm

There is a limited number of tickets available daily from either the New York or New Jersey ferry ticket office (adult $10). Or book advance tickets with a $1.75 handling fee per ticket.

Reservations: Call (866) 782-8834 or (212) 269-5755 or visit
Statue Reservations