Whoever thinks the Statue of Liberty is a "monument" is delusional. It's boring, it's meaningless, and it's falling apart. And it's not as big as it looks in pictures. It could also use a good power wash. I'd choose the Space Needle over the Statue of Liberty any day.

Do not go to the Statue of Liberty unless it has significant importance to you. You will spend at least 3 hours seeing a statue that you can pay $1 to see atop the World Trade Center. You must ferry(boat)to the Statue because it is on Ellis Island. After you are next to a huge statue that you can go into. If you want a nice picture of yourself next to the statue, go to the top of the World Trade Center on a CLEAR day and go to the outdoor rooftop and stand at the south end of the building. You will get the whole statue & the island in the background. By going to the Top of the World Trade Center ($13.50) you get to see do both at once. Pay the $1 for the telescope and you can see every detail of the statue.

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

When we visited the Statue of Liberty July 1 of 2002, no one was allowed to go inside of her. However, we were very pleased with the trip overall, from the ferry ride to the island itself, where we could view the statue close up.

Getting There:
To make your visit to the Statue of Liberty, you will need to go to Castle Clinton in Battery Park, at the lowest point in Manhattan (use the Bowling Green subway stop). There, you buy a ferry ticket for $10 (adult) that leaves from Battery Park every half hour for Liberty Island first and Ellis Island last. You don't have to get off of the ferry to tour either island; if you like, you can remain on the boat for the fifteen minutes it takes to load up passengers who have already visited the island. The ferries leave their stops every half hour to make the fifteen minute cruise to their next destination.

Liberty Island and the Statue:
I suppose the Statue of Liberty is the closest thing that the United States has to a Colossus, who greets new arrivals at its shores. She is a beautiful sight, even though she is an alarmingly bright shade of green! You would think she was bronze, but she is actually made of copper which has achieved a bright green patina through the years.

Once debarked, we made a lazy circle around Liberty Island, taking in views alternating between New York and the Statue herself. Bronze markers ring the island's walkway and explain different facts about the statue's history, for example, she has broken chains at her feet to symbolize freedom (of course I never knew this because you can't see her feet from BELOW!). I also never knew that the book she held symbolized the Declaration of Independence, and is marked with the date of its signing in Roman numerals. There is an impressive gift shop with air conditioning, refreshments, and unique souvenirs of the sight.

If you are content with seeing Lady Liberty from afar (try the Staten Island Ferry--it's free!), then this trip may not be for you, especially if you have limited time. But it can provide a leisurely family outing full of American history for those who want to slow down for an afternoon.

We bought our tickets to the Statue of Liberty at Castle Clinton. $12 tickets get you passage only on the Circle Line ferry. For $18 you get an audio tour. Our son's ticket cost $5.

You need a reservation to visit the 10th floor of the Statue of Liberty, but not to wander around the island. The return-ferry ticket also includes a visit to Ellis Island.

We queued 5 minutes to buy the tickets, but a further 1.5 hours to go through security. Wrap up warm - it is freezing down there.

On-board the ferry sit up-top. Despite the icy wind, you get wonderful views of Liberty and the skyline.

The Statue of Liberty - official name Liberty Encircling the World, was designed by Bartholdi and Eiffel and presented as a gift from France to the USA to commemorate America's 100th birthday. Dedicated on October 28, 1886, it is 305 ft tall and very green - it's covered with a copper skin.

Liberty's crown has 7 rays, symbolising the 7 seas and 7 continents. The tablet she holds is inscribed with July 4, 1776. Her nose is 4ft long and her mouth is 3ft wide. Bartholdi used his mother's face as inspiration. The Statue is the universal symbol of democracy and still the epitome of the American dream.

Walk all around the island. As well as a close-up of the statue you get lovely views of Manhattan and the water. Avoid the restaurant - fast-food and very crowded. Wait until you get to Ellis Island and visit the coffee-shop/restaurant there - so much nicer.

Ellis Island was once the first glimpse of the New World for countless immigrants. It was the processing station for around 12 million immigrants between 1892-1954. 40% of Americans today have an ancestor who entered the country through the island.

It is a moving memorial and interpretive centre where Americans can research their ancestors' arrival, entering through a replica of the baggage and registry room. We found it fascinating.

Back in Manhattan, when we got off the ferry we walked up to Wall Street. This is the New York from the black and white movies - narrow streets, big skyscrapers, suited businesspeople.

We walked down Wall Street - so narrow. It was named after a wall which the Dutch built to fend off Indian attacks and has been the centre of commerce in the New World for 2 centuries.

We also walked past Ground Zero. The 16 acre site of the World Trade Center is now a construction site, as the World Trade Center Memorial is now being built. It is a poignant and sad place, but the really moving memorial to those who died is at Battery Park.

The orb there used to stand on top of a granite fountain between the World Trade Center Towers. The plaque says "in honour of those who were lost, the sphere stands as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country."