Statue Of Liberty

October 11, 2022

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

The Statue of Liberty's crown on Tuesday reopened to the public for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The crown closed in March 2020 when Covid-19 first hit New York City due to concerns about spreading the virus in the statue's enclosed spaces. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 162 steps to the top as there is no elevator service. 
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June 14, 2021

France is sending Lady Liberty’s ‘little sister’ to NYC for July 4

France is sending a mini version of the Statue of Liberty to the United States this month, 136 years after the iconic sculpture was unveiled on Liberty Island. The Embassy of France in the U.S., the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, and shipping company CMA CGM Group announced last week that a replica of Lady Liberty will set sail from Paris on a nine-day journey across the Atlantic, arriving in New York City in time for the Fourth of July.
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August 19, 2019

10 things you might not know about the Statue of Liberty

The debate around American immigration policy has become so contentious and dispiriting that the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services has actually suggested amending “The New Colossus,” Emma Lazarus' immortal words of welcome inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. But at the same time, writer Joan Marans Dim and artist Antonio Masi have brought out "Lady Liberty: An Illustrated History of America’s Most Storied Woman." After getting a sneak peek of the new book, it seemed timely to take a deep dive into the history of the Statue of Liberty, which represents not only our city but one of the most vital and necessary of all American values. Ahead, discover 10 things you might not know about the Statue of Liberty, from its beginnings on "Love Island" to early suffragette protests to its sister in Paris.
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May 17, 2019

VIDEO: Take a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty’s new museum

As part of a new video series, photographers and longtime New Yorkers James and Karla Murray take us on a tour of one of the few NYC sites they have never visited: Liberty Island. During a press visit with 6sqft last week, the duo toured and documented the recently opened Statue of Liberty Museum, taking in the interactive galleries, views of Lady Liberty, and the statue's original torch. And as part of a preview with Untapped Cities, James and Karla got a behind-the-scenes look at the abandoned Ellis Island hospital as well as its Immigration Museum. Ahead, ride the Statue Cruises ferry with them from Bowling Green to Liberty and Ellis Islands, taking in all of the historic sites along the way.
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May 14, 2019

See inside the Statue of Liberty’s new museum ahead of this week’s opening

The Statue of Liberty is a universally recognized structure and symbol. But do most people know the story of its creation? Opening this Thursday, the new Statue of Liberty Museum aims to educate visitors about the history and legacy of the statue through immersive gallery spaces and artifacts. During a press preview last week, 6sqft toured the 26,000-square-foot museum and its landscaped roof, located on Liberty Island across from Lady Liberty herself.
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December 24, 2018

Statue of Liberty will stay open during government shutdown

The third partial federal government shutdown of 2018 kicked off this weekend after Congress failed to pass an appropriations bill. As with the first two that occurred earlier this year, the government shutdown can affect New York City by temporarily closing its national parks and some of its federally-funded museums, leaving thousands of federal workers in the city without pay. But one major landmark will remain open throughout the duration of the shutdown. With help from the state, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will stay open during the shutdown, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday.
More on the shutdown
October 17, 2018

PHOTOS: See how the Statue of Liberty’s new museum is shaping up

With the construction of the new Statue of Liberty Museum in its final stages, 6sqft on Tuesday toured the 26,000-square-foot site and its landscaped rooftop. This is the first ground-up building overseen by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, the nonprofit which has raised $100 million in private funds for the project. Designed by FXCollaborative with exhibits created by ESI Design, the angular-shaped museum will feature three immersive gallery spaces with one wing showcasing the Statue of Liberty's original torch and the iconic monument framed behind it through floor-to-ceiling glass.
See its progress
July 2, 2018

‘For Lady Liberty’ campaign launches to help fund the Statue of Liberty’s new museum

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation this week will launch a fundraising campaign to help finish construction on its new $70 million museum. The foundation's campaign, "For Lady Liberty," seeks to raise $10 million to "add the finishing touches" to the 26,000-square-foot museum on Liberty Island.  When it opens in May 2019, the space, designed by FXCollaborative and ESI Design, will feature an immersive theater and gallery that showcases the statue's original torch and the Liberty Star Mural, a panoramic display with the names of donors.
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January 19, 2018

Here is what might temporarily close in New York City if the government shuts down

If you're an out-of-towner planning a classic, tourist-attraction-filled trip to New York City soon, you may want to rethink your visit. The U.S. government might be headed toward a shutdown, with its funding set to expire by midnight Friday. Although it's not totally clear yet what will be affected in NYC, the last government shutdown in 2013, which lasted 16 days, temporarily closed national parks and a few federally-funded museums citywide. While there's a chance the national parks and museums might choose to stay open, ahead find which ones might be affected in the event of a government shutdown.
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December 5, 2017

Statue of Liberty Museum tops off construction ahead of 2019 opening

Yesterday morning construction topped off at the Statue of Liberty Museum, a brand new $70 million building on Liberty Island designed by FXFOWLE and ESI Design. Project designs were released last fall; soon after the project was approved. Construction has been moving along steadily ever since, and today marked a milestone before the 2019 opening. Diane von Furstenberg, who is still working to raise money for the museum, and Stephen Briganti, president of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, signed their names on the beam symbolically hoisted to the top of the structure. Once it opens, the 26,000-square-foot space will hold an immersive theater and gallery that showcases the Statue of Liberty's original torch, framing stunning views of New York's most iconic monument.
Tour the construction site
March 9, 2017

The Statue of Liberty will receive a $4.58 million makeover

A gift to perhaps the greatest woman in New York City, it was revealed on Wednesday that the Statue of Liberty will be receiving a $4.58 million facelift. The Post had the details on the plans which were approved by The National Park Service (NPS) earlier this week. The overhaul is expected to include the planting of 46 salt-tolerant trees, repairs to the statue's granite pavers, and the installation of about 1,650-feet of stainless steel fencing and new gates around Lady Liberty's base.
more details here
November 11, 2016

$70M FXFOWLE-designed Statue of Liberty Museum receives approval

It's full steam ahead for the FXFOWLE-designed Statue of Liberty Museum. Per the Journal, The National Park service approved plans on Wednesday to erect the free-standing structure on Liberty Island. The development team broke ground on the project in early October and at the same time releasing renderings of what would eventually rise on the site. As 6sqft previously reported, the $70 million museum is being helped along by Diane von Furstenberg, who has been named the honorary “godmother” of the project. Von Furstenberg is currently spearheading fundraising efforts for the museum and hopes to secure $100 million from donors for the development. Von Furstenberg, along with her husband Barry Diller, are also in the midst of pushing another civic project forward, Pier55 Park.
find out more here
October 6, 2016

FXFOWLE reveals design for $70M Statue of Liberty Museum, complete with green roof

Four months after it was announced that FXFOWLE would be designing a new, free-standing museum for the Statue of Liberty, principal architect Nicholas Garrison has revealed renderings of his vision for the site at today's groundbreaking ceremony on Liberty Island. The $70 million project--which will be largely funded by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg--features an angular-shaped, 26,000-square-foot building constructed of glass, granite and concrete that was inspired by its waterfront location. It'll sit across the circular plaza from the Statue and will "seemingly rise out of the ground," according to Crain's, thanks to its green roof that acts as an extension of the surrounding park.
More renderings and details this way
June 10, 2016

Diane von Furstenberg Will Help Fund New Statue of Liberty Museum

Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller are well known in the philanthropic circuit as supporters of cultural public spaces. They were early funders of the High Line, and construction is soon to commence on Diller's $150 million+ futuristic offshore park known as Pier 55. Their latest endeavor will be backing a new Statue of Liberty museum, as the Wall Street Journal reports that von Furstenberg has joined the board of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and agreed to assist with fundraising. The announcement for a new, free-standing museum designed by FXFOWLE comes as the Statue of Liberty nears its 130th anniversary in October. Currently, the exhibition space is housed in the statue's pedestal, but because of its size and security concerns only about 20 percent of the 4.3 million annual visitors can access this museum. The National Park Service, in an environmental review put out last month, said the 15,000-square-foot project is "intended to increase public access to exhibits on the history, construction and legacy of the statue, and provide additional shelter during inclement weather."
More details on the building
May 6, 2015

Two Artists Turn Famous U.S. Landmarks into Fun Animations

Looking for a midday mental break? Fix your gaze on these adorable animations created by illustrators Kirk Wallace and Latham Arnott. Using their artistic skills and backgrounds in computer science, the duo have turned a handful of America's most recognizable landmarks—like the Statue of Liberty, The Golden Gate Bridge and Seattle's Space Needle—into wonderful works of art with loads of personality.
more adorable animations this way
November 1, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Do cemeteries affect real estate prices in New York? The answer might surprise you. It’s going to cost $32 to visit One World Trade Center’s observatory. But the views are pretty incredible. Did you check out the Village Halloween Parade last night? Find out the history of the famous festivity. If you haven’t already, wish […]

October 28, 2014

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty! She Turns 128 Today

Every day Lady Liberty stands tall holding high her torch in celebration of our nation's freedom. Since today is Miss Liberty's 128th birthday, we thought it would only be appropriate to take some time out of our busy schedules to return the favor. Join us for a brief look back at some of Miss Liberty's most notable moments throughout history. Happy birthday Lady Liberty, and here we go!
Fun facts on Miss Liberty here
July 11, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Happy Birthday Erno Rubik; Have You Seen This Spider?

Cross-Laminated Timber Could Be Construction’s New “It” Material: Treehugger details all of CLT’s attributes. Park Slope Neighbors Annoyed With De Blasio’s Junk: NY Mag hilariously details how Mayor Bill De Blasio’s neighbors begrudgingly shopped at the moving family’s “free” pile despite the slim pickings. Happy Birthday Rubik’s Cube: It’s Erno Rubik’s birthday weekend and the Wall Street […]