New York City Landmarks: Statue Of Liberty

As anticipated in the previous article, the next topic in my travel guide to New York is the city’s most representative monument – the Statue of Liberty.

Brief History

The imposing statue is located on Liberty Island – close to the New York harbor, on the Hudson River – and was offered by France as a gift to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, back in 1886.
I will not speak here about the colossal size or other amazing technical details of the Statue of Liberty, because you will have to see with your own eyes to believe it. I can only say that it is the pride of New Yorkers and it deserves the status of true American symbol.

How To Get There And What There Is To See

Tourists can arrive on Liberty Island only by a special ferry operated by Statue Cruises. Usually, the ferry departs two times a day, but only the first trip of the day includes visits at both Ellis Island and Liberty Island (see more details on Statue Cruises’ website: http://www.statuecruises.com/).
The pedestal as well as the interior of the statue can be visited (the interior can be seen through a glass window). Miss Liberty‘s crown is also opened for visitors – my advice: reserve your ticket online, a few weeks before your arrival. The scenery is beautiful (the entire port can be seen from here) and the breathtaking sensation can be compared to that experienced in the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro.
You should know, however, that, because the only way to access the island is by ferry, only a limited number of people can enter the monument during one day. Therefore, be sure to book your tickets in advance if you want to visit the symbol of American freedom during your vacation in New York. Otherwise – who knows? – you might be one of the lucky few who will have the chance to find a ticket at the ticket booth.
Upon leaving, don’t forget to buy a Statue of Liberty souvenir for your family and friends – youl will find all kinds of funny stuff, such as statues, flags, plastic key chains, foam crowns, calendars or even apparel, all available in different shapes, sizes, colors and … prices, of course!.

In my next article: other great landmarks of New York.