Quote: The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, is one of the most recognizible sites in New York City. I have been to New York dozens of times, but have only been to Liberty Island one time. Lady Liberty (who was given to the US by the French and whose inner structure was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who is famous for designing the Eiffel Tower) is beautiful, but I have never really had the overwhelming desire to climb up inside.

Since 2001, security has become very tight and sometimes (depending on terror threat levels), the US park service won't allow anyone to enter the statue, which was the case during my visit.

For those of you who would like to visit; admission to the Statue of Liberty is free, but you must pay for the ferry that takes you from Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Admission also includes entrance to Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

The current price is:
$12 Adults
$10 Seniors
$5 kids 4-12

Passes are issued to enter the statue (when allowed) starting early in the morning and those who don't get to Battery Park early enough won't make it inside, but the grounds are beautiful and you can see gorgeous views of Manhattan (I really miss those twin towers) and of New Jersey. Bring your camera, but beware, you must go through security so don't bring large bags.
From journals Best of New York City

Quote: 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.

Quote: 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."
From journals A Week in New York

Quote:

The idea of the Statute of Liberty conjures up many different ideas of what it is, but almost everyone’s first though when they see it is "wow, it’s small." The Statue is 152 feet tall and weights 225 tons. France gave the statue to the US in 1865 as a sign of friendship and close historical ties between the two countries (France helped the US win their independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War). The ferry for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leaves every 15 minutes from Battery Park starting at 8:30am. Tickets ate $12 more if you want an audio tour. If you want to go into the Statute then order the monument time passes online. They sell out quickly, and when you get to the Statue the lines are LONG to get inside, even with the pass. Get to the park early, because you need to pass through security. The ride to the Statue of Liberty takes about 15 minutes.

There isn’t much to do on Liberty Island. There is a gift shop and usually a park ranger giving talks about the history of the Statue. When getting back onto the ferry to the Ellis Island is careful of which ferry you board; one heads to Ellis Island and then back to New York and the other goes to New Jersey. Ellis Island was my favorite of the two destinations. The space in the complex is devoted to the history of the island and the immigrants who passed though it. Tourist can learn about the whole process that the immigrants went thought once they arrived in New York through photographs, documents, and even quotes from the people who were there. Other exhibits such as "Treasures from Home" show off items that immigrants brought with them from home, and "Ellis Island Chronicles" tells the history of the island itself. How it started as fishing to how it grew in size from 3 acres to 27 acres. There is also a show for an extra $6. The show Island of Hope/Island of Tears is decent. It lasts 25 minutes and tells the story of a few immigrants and their journey to Ellis Island. It was decent but reminded me more of a bad High School play then a professional production.

There is even the American Family Immigration History Center, where for $5 you can research your family. All you need to know is the name of the person who came through island and you can find a wealth of info. My search lead me to a manifest of two people who could possibly be my great-great grandfather, but what I didn’t know is that they both came over with family members that I never knew about.

From journals New York, New York