Crown section reopens

By LIM AI LEE

SHE’S one ageless beauty who has no need for Botox. Turning 123 this year, Lady Liberty remains one of the world’s most famous and stunning landmarks.

An international icon of freedom, the Statue of Liberty has always been top on the list of must-see attractions for visitors to the Big Apple.

The mighty dame, standing on Liberty Island and holding a gold-tipped torch, is hard to miss if you are on a ship sailing towards New York Harbour.

Since July 4 this year, there is an added draw at the world heritage site. Liberty’s famous crown is once again open to tourists, after eight years.
Icon of freedom: The Statue of Liberty is among the must-see attractions in New York City.

The statue was closed to the public following the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and had remained closed even after the base, pedestal and outdoor observation deck was reopened in 2004.

The crown remained off-limits for security reasons until last Saturday when the city celebrated US Independence Day.

Visitors – restricted to 30 per hour – have to undergo strict checks, similar to those conducted at airports.

The view is awesome from the top, but the ascent to the crown can be a challenge. Be prepared for an arduous climb on a narrow winding staircase with 354 steps (equivalent of 22 storeys) in a cramped enclosed area.

Since the statue is not air-conditioned, interior temperatures can be 20˚F higher than outside, especially when the summer sun blazes down. On hot days, visitors are advised to drink some water at least 30 minutes before climbing.

A history lecturer, who was among the first group of visitors, described the stuffiness inside to being in the underground chamber of a pyramid, but added that the spectacular view was worth sweating it out.

There are 25 windows in the crown which symbolise gemstones and the heaven’s rays shining over the world. The seven rays of the crown are said to represent the seven seas and continents.

Priced at US$15 (RM54) each, tickets for the boat ride to the island and entry into the crown have been sold out through mid-October. More than 15,000 tickets have been sold.

According to a spokesperson from Statue Cruises, each admittee’s name is printed on the ticket and a visitor has to show his or her ID when picking it up at the ticketing booth. The ticket is checked again at the statue entrance.

So, don’t even think of buying from scalpers, who are offering the tickets from US$30 to US$200 (RM108-RM720) on auction websites. You will end up poorer and still not be able to visit the crown.

Freelance writer K. Jeung, from Seoul, said she planned to visit the crown with her husband in autumn when the weather was cooler.

“We have visited the statue many times; our friends and relatives from Korea always insist on seeing Liberty when they visit New York. As the crown is now open, we do not want to miss the opportunity of going to the top,” said Jeung, who has been staying in Manhattan for five years.

Since there is no copyright on the image of Liberty, her likeness can be seen on souvenirs, billboards, cartoons, posters, movies, commercials and many public places. You can even see her in Central Park, where impersonators paint themselves green and dress up like the Lady.

The statue, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States, was cast in 1875 by Gustave Eiffel, who was also behind the world famous Eiffel tower in Paris. The engineering feat took nine years.

Liberty’s face is said to have been modelled after the sculptor’s mother while her toga dates back to ancient Greek and Roman civilisations.

Towering at 33.86m, Liberty may be slim, but she is no lightweight, weighing in at 156 tons! The statue is made up of 31 tons of copper and 125 tons of steel. The concrete foundation alone at the base weighs 27,000 tons.

In view of its massive size, the statue had to be disassembled in France for shipping to the United States, arriving in NYC in June 1885. The dedication of the Statue took place in 1886.

Over the past century, the Statue had seen many administrative changes, coming under the care of the the Lighthouse Board, the War Department, and finally, the National Park Service, from 1933.

The statue has not always been the green shade it is today. As the “skin” is of copper, Liberty was originally brown. But over the years, the copper, reacting to air and water, formed a layer of patine giving it the present colour.

Its unique engineering technique allows the statue to move, expand and contract with changes in temperature and wind forces.

A symbolic feature that people cannot see is the broken chain wrapped around Liberty’s feet. The broken chains symbolise her free forward movement, representing freedom from oppression.

And in case you’re curious, the Lady wears Size 879 sandals!

Those who are unable to personally visit the Statue of Liberty need not despair. You can now check out the Liberty eTour at http://www.nps.gov