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Can you still walk up in the Statue of Liberty?

If you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty, you must buy a Pedestal Access or Crown Access ticket. General Admission tickets do not get you access inside the statue. If you are interested in tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, read more below.



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Visiting Liberty Island is one of the most rewarding experiences of any trip to New York City. However, visitors who wish to enter the pedestal and visit the crown must secure reservations through Statue City Cruises, the ONLY AUTHORIZED ticket seller for Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

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It takes around 20 minutes to walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty. You can take an elevator to the pedestal level of the Statue but the walk up to the crown itself will take you at least 15 minutes.

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There are 215 steps or approximately 10 stories to climb to the top of the pedestal. There is an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs. Tickets to the pedestal are limited and can sell out in advance.

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Contrary to popular belief, it's not closed off because of structural damage caused by years of wear and tear — it's thanks to an act of sabotage by Germany on July 30, 1916, during World War I, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

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Book your tickets for Lady Liberty's crown well in advance. For those who want to view Manhattan from the inside of the iconic crown, I can tell you it's a fantastic way to experience the statue and see New York Harbor.

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Visitors climb 354 steps to reach the crown and 192 steps in order to reach the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown which symbolize 25 gemstones found on the earth. The seven rays of the Statue's crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world.

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Since the statue is not air conditioned, interior temperatures can be 20 degrees higher than the outside. On hot days visitors should drink water at least 30 minutes prior to the climb. There are no rest rooms inside the statue itself.

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Luckily, for the Statue of Liberty, there are quite a few options. Seeing Lady Liberty for free does mean only getting to take a photo of her. There's no free option for visiting Liberty Island and physically going inside the statue.

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Those with reservations to the pedestal, the stone base that the Statue of Liberty sits on top of, must secure the following items in a locker: ALL FOOD & DRINKS (except water in a clear plastic bottle) ALL BACKPACK-STYLE BAGS (including over-sized bags, drawstring bags, and backpack purses) Strollers.

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The absolute best time of day to see the statue is first thing in the morning. In the summer, the first ferry leaves at 8:30 and you should definitely try and be on it. Security will usually open around 8:15 so it's best to be in line before then.

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Each ticket provides a different level of access to the landmark. If you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty, you must buy a Pedestal Access or Crown Access ticket. General Admission tickets do not get you access inside the statue.

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After visiting the Pedestal and the Statue of Liberty Museum, the climb to the Crown is up a narrow spiral staircase of more than 300 steps (the equivalent of 27 floors) that crosses the entire body of the Statue of Liberty.

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3. Lady Liberty is struck by lightning 600 times every year. Standing proud, exposed to the elements, the statue has to withstand around 600 lightning bolts every year and, in high winds, the torch can sway by about 5 inches side-to-side!

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Visitors to Liberty Island can tour the grounds and, with appropriate advanced tickets, visit the Statue's pedestal and crown. Visitors can also explore the Statue of Liberty Museum.

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2. The crown's spikes represent the oceans and continents. The statue's crown bears seven spikes, symbolizing the seven oceans and seven continents of the world, and emphasizing her message of welcome, inclusiveness, and freedom.

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Because it is not a traditional building, the Statue of Liberty does not technically have floors as you would have in a traditionally functioning building. The building, however, has 354 stairs, which is roughly equivalent to a 20 story building.

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Other highlights include seeing the tablet from above, an up-close view of the torch, and being able to feel the thickness of the copper statue. Anyone visiting the crown must be able to walk up at least 162 steps on a confined spiral staircase.

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Without proper planning, many people end their visit much later than expected, so make sure to leave plenty of time to see everything without feeling rushed. At a minimum, you should budget two hours for the Statue of Liberty and an additional hour if you plan to visit Ellis Island as well.

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Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are only accessible by ferry.

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July 30, 1916 Dynamite and explosives set for the British and French war effort were detonated. That statue suffered some minor damage (mostly to the right arm and torch) and closed for ten days. For public safety reasons, the torch balcony has been closed ever since.

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