When did they close access to the torch of the Statue of Liberty?

The torch has been closed since the Black Tom explosion of July 30, 1916, which was one of the largest acts of sabotage to our nation prior to the event of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Many people think they've been there and confuse it with climbing a spiral staircase which goes to the crown.



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By 1980, corrosion and leaks from rain along with damage from the bombing had rendered the original torch damaged well beyond repair it was removed from the statue on July the 4th 1984 and replaced with a gold-plated replica that remained much more faithful to the original version and design by the end of 1984 the old ...

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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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In the early days, the military opened the torch up to V.I.P. visitors, who would climb a 40-foot ladder into it and gaze onto New York Harbor from its ornate balcony.

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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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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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However, years later, it was discovered that German terrorists committed the attack to put an end to the American supply of munitions. Since the Statue of Liberty was so close to Black Tom Island, the shrapnel from the explosion ended up damaging the torch, made of copper and glass.

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The arm and torch were closed to visitors in 1916 after German spies launched shrapnel into the statue as the result of an attack targeting the nearby Black Tom munitions depot. Black Tom Island has since become part of Liberty Island thanks to landfill expansion projects.

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Patina forms a protective coating on metals, preventing them from further oxidizing. If you constantly removed the patina on the Statue, or indeed on any surface, you'd end up with no surface left. The entire appeal of copper is the green patina that forms on it - mostly copper carbonate.

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With 31 tons of copper and 125 tons of steel, the scrap value of the Statue of Liberty comes in at $227,610, far below two of the most expensive statues in the world. But that's what happens when you use millions worth of gold and bronze.

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Visitors can also explore the pedestal upon which the statue stands. National Park Service staff are the rare few who enter the torch after climbing a 40-foot ladder for the sole purpose of operating its floodlights.

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The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people commemorating the alliance of France and the United States during the American Revolution. Yet, it represented much more to those individuals who proposed the gift. A photograph of Edouard de Laboulaye from the Galerie Contemporaine collection.

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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. The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand reads (in Roman numerals) “July (IV) 4th, (MDCCLXXVI) 1776.”

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Prohibited Items for Monument Access (Pedestal) All food. All beverages, except water in a plastic container. All backpacks (including oversized bags).

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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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There are two genuine statues and several lesser versions of the Statue of Liberty. The original and most famous is the one located on Liberty Island, a gift from the French to America. The second is located in Paris, France, and was a reciprocal gift from the United States in 1889.

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Little Lady Liberty: France Is Sending The U.S. A Second, Smaller Statue Of Liberty. A mini replica of the French-designed Statue of Liberty will reach the U.S. on July 1. Here, the statue awaits its move in Paris on Monday. The Statue of Liberty will celebrate Independence Day with her little sister this year.

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Statue of Liberty - a room inside the flame Yes, you read that right! There is a secret room here, which you unfortunately can't access. In 1916, the room in the torch had to be closed after an explosion (which was an act of sabotage committed by German agents during World War I).

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Yes! All visitors must purchase a ticket to board the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. All tickets are available to purchase up to six months in advance. Grounds Tickets are available daily and can be purchased via the Statue Cruises website or in-person at the Statue Cruises ticket booths.

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