NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

For more than a century, the Statue of Liberty has been a welcoming presence in New York Harbor, representing hope to immigrants and longtime citizens alike, but it began as a gift from the people of France to celebrate the American Centennial. It has since become a symbol of freedom to the world, as well as an image closely associated with New York; few tourists consider a trip complete without at least a passing glimpse of it.

A time-pass is required to enter the monument, which is available from the ferry company. Visitors have a choice of two options in experiencing the monument, the Promenade Tour, which takes visitors through the monument lobby, past the original torch to the Statue of Liberty exhibit for a 30-minute ranger-guided tour, followed by a visit to the lower promenade and Fort Wood for a brief talk with breath-taking views of New York Harbor; and the Observatory Tour, which incorporates the Promenade Tour plus a visit to the pedestal observation platform to view the statue's interior framework through a new glass ceiling portal and a ranger-guided program about the statue's design.

The statue's crown reopened on July 4, 2009, but the torch has been officially closed since 1916. The same ferry that transports visitors to the Statue of Liberty makes a second stop at Ellis Island, where there is an immigration museum.

• Directions: Ferry service from Lower Manhattan: Purchase round-trip ferry tickets at Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park. Ferries from New York operate on a loop, stopping first at Liberty Island and then at Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park, New York.

  Subway to Battery Park: 1 to South Ferry; 4, 5 to Bowling Green; R to Whitehall Street

• Disability Access: Fully accessible, except crown. Ferry personnel can provide assistance on the ferry gangways. Guide and other assist animals are welcome. A limited number of wheelchairs are available at both Liberty and Ellis Island on first-come, first-served basis.
  
• Disability Assistance:
  Hearing: Closed captioned videos. Assistive listening devices and ranger-led tours in American Sign Language are available.
  Vision: Large-print brochures
• Gift Shops: T-shirts, mugs, postcards, souvenirs
• On-Site Food: Concession stand