The Statue of Liberty reopens

The Statue of Liberty began welcoming the public once again on Tuesday, August 3, and the National Parks Service has launched a telephone reservation service for visitors wishing to attend the national icon's reopening. The reservation system, designed to facilitate visits and ease long lines, will also be available online in September.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's recent elevation of the threat level for New York City's financial sector will not delay the landmark's reopening, but city police will provide increased security around the statue via its aviation and harbor patrol, New York Police Department officials report. The Statue of Liberty was closed after September 11, 2001, due to increased security measures and has undergone a series of renovations and security improvements over the past year.

When Lady Liberty partially reopens this week, visitors will be able to view the inside of the statue through a glass ceiling in the structure's pedestal, as well as walk onto its 16^th-story observation deck. The interior of the statue remains closed indefinitely for security reasons, but tours include a trip inside the statue's original torch, replaced after her centennial in 1986, as well as a visit to neighboring Ellis Island.

To make a reservation for guided tours of the Statue of Liberty's observatory and promenade, please call (866) STATUE4 or (866) 782-8834. For more coverage of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on LowerManhattan.info, please click here.