Statue of Liberty frequently asked questions

It is a colossal neoclassical sculpture of a robed and crowned woman on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was a gift from the people of France to the United States and has become a symbol of freedom and of welcome to immigrants.

French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the figure, and Gustave Eiffel built its metal framework. Eiffel is the same engineer associated with the famous tower in Paris.

It was dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland. Its completion was marked by New York's first ticker-tape parade.

It is clad in copper over a metal framework. According to the sources, Bartholdi chose copper over bronze or stone for its lower cost, lighter weight and ease of transport, which is why the statue could cross the ocean in crates from France.

Exact measurements of the figure and pedestal are best checked in official sources, because figures vary depending on whether you count only the statue or the whole monument with its pedestal. What is certain is that its scale is colossal.

She carries a tabula ansata inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI, which is July 4, 1776, the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. At her feet lie a broken chain and shackle.

No. According to the sources, public access to the torch has been barred since 1916. The original torch, which the figure carried from 1886 to 1984, is on display in the island's museum.

Yes, but spots are limited, booked in advance, and there are general physical requirements. Check current conditions on the official site before counting on it. More detail in our crown guide.

The pedestal gives access to a level along its rim with views, while the crown means climbing inside the figure itself. Both have limited capacity. Check which access your reservation type includes.

Only by ferry. Official boats leave from Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. There is no other public way in, and tickets and schedules change, so check ahead.

It depends on what you do. As a very broad guide, the Statue's island can take one to three hours, and Ellis Island about as much. Add waiting to board and security screening, which can stretch the total.

Yes, from several shoreline viewpoints and from the Staten Island Ferry, a public service fare-free since 1997 according to the sources. You see it from a distance without setting foot on the island. We have a guide on this option.

Facilities can vary with the season and works. Before you go, check the official U.S. National Park Service site to see what is open and whether to bring water or a snack.

Rules on animals change and usually have exceptions, such as service animals. Check the current policy of the national parks and the ferry operators before planning your trip.

It is a museum on the island, opened in 2019, which according to the sources displays the figure's original torch. It helps explain the history and preservation of the monument.

It was the busiest immigrant inspection station in the United States. According to the sources, about 12 million people were processed there between 1892 and 1954. Its main building is now a national museum of immigration.

That is the usual approach: the ferry service typically links both. The key is to start early and not overload the itinerary. There is a full plan in our one-day New York guide.

It depends on your priorities, such as weather, crowds and light. Visitor numbers change with the season and the day of the week. There is more detail in our guide on the best time and hour.