Only 240 people are allowed up to the crown per day, so make sure you book. It’s 393 steps, but it’s also now wheelchair accessible. Enjoy the view
The Statue of Liberty is perhaps the defining image of the United States. Yet the colossal, neoclassical monument was actually built in France and shipped to New York in hundreds of pieces. It took four months to put her together. The statue is hollow, made of thinly pounded copper sheets bolted over a steel framework. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi along with the engineer Gustave Eiffel, it was hailed as a new kind of union between art and engineering.
The figure is a robed female representing the Roman goddess Libertas. She’s 305 feet tall, wears a size 879 shoe and has a 35 foot waistline. Her torch shows liberty enlightening the world, and her tablet has the date of the American Declaration of Independent inscribed on it. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue is clearly laden with symbolism and history.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
The statue was presented by France to affirm the historical alliance between the two nations, but the pedestal was built by the Americans. It was financed with help from the publisher Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World, who started a drive for donations that resulted in more than 120,000 individually small, but collectively substantial, contributions. Which seems appropriate, given the statue is symbol of freedom and democracy.
A history of immigration
Besides liberty, the statue has also become a symbol of hope for immigrants, welcoming then into New York by sea for over one hundred years. An inscription by the poet Emma Lazarus, written for the statue, can be found on the pedestal: "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Discover New York from a different perspective on a tour that takes you out to the islands in Upper Bay, with visits to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you will also learn the history of many of the immigrants who helped grow the wealth and history of the United States.
On your private tour you will:
It is estimated that forty per cent of the entire US population can trace at least one relative's arrival to the US, through the port of New York and Ellis Island. At Ellis Island, you will discover the many extraordinary stories of families journeying to New York City since the earliest days of the United States' founding. At the museum, your expert local guide will talk you through some of the exhibits on display.
You will also have time to properly enjoy the museum at your own pace, as you immerse yourself in a similar journey to that of a newly arrived person. You will be able to grab a bite to eat on the island, or alternatively, you may purchase some snacks on the ferry back to Manhattan.
You will begin your tour at Castle Clinton, a former Fort in Battery Park, where you will board the ferry to the famous Liberty Island. Along the way, you will learn about the remarkable history of the Statue of Liberty, as well as its significance to modern America. From here you will also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skylines and harbour.
Boarding at Liberty Island, you will hear all about the fascinating history of the Liberty figure, and how this 100th birthday gift to America from France was shipped from Paris to New York, and finally unveiled after 10 years of construction in 1886.
Explore the most popular landmarks of historic New York City in a day, including the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, and embark on a full-day tour perfect for first-time visitors that want to make the most of their time in the city that never sleeps.
On your private tour you will:
You will begin your tour at Castle Clinton, a former Fort in Battery Park, where you will board the ferry to the famous Liberty Island. Along the way, you will learn about the remarkable history of the Statue of Liberty, as well as its significance to modern America. From here you will also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skylines and harbour.
It is estimated that forty per cent of the entire US population can trace at least one relative's arrival to the US, through the port of New York and Ellis Island.
Boarding at Liberty Island, you will hear all about the fascinating history of the Liberty figure, and how this 100th birthday gift to America from France was shipped from Paris to New York, and finally unveiled after 10 years of construction in 1886.
After lunch, your tour continues in the heart of Wall Street, where the history of New York City began as New Amsterdam in the early 1600s. As you make your way through Wall Street you will discover how an 18th-century street bazaar would eventually become a centre for global commerce.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, your guide will share with you the history of the World Trade Center, discuss the tragic events of 9/11, and walk you through the Memorial’s design. The area formerly known as 'Ground Zero' is now the site of a moving memorial and has indeed become an important historic landmark.
Here your knowledgeable guide will tell you of the events leading up to the untimely destruction of the towers, as well as share some of the heart-wrenching stories of the families, survivors and 9/11 heroes. You will also visit St. Paul's Chapel, which miraculously survived the 9/11 attack.
Your tour finishes with entrance tickets to the 9/11 Museum. Your guide will take you to the queue, and give you your timed tickets before departing with you. Once inside the museum, you are free to explore the museum at your own pace.
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