Frequently Asked Questions

Jump To:	May I Visit ...	About the Statue
	Plan Your Visit	Keep in Contact
	Statue Symbols	Statue Geography

 

May I Visit …

... the crown or the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty? Tickets to the crown and pedestal are limited, so plan your visit today!

... the museum on Liberty Island? The museum is located near the flag pole, and is accessible to all visitors.

... the Ellis Island Immigration Museum? Yes. Artifacts, documents, and other historic items are available throughout the exhibits. Visitors can see many of the historic rooms that immigrants would have passed through. A guided tour of the Contagious Disease Ward is available by reservation only via booking online at statuecruises.com. Learn how to plan your visit to Ellis Island.

… the inside area of the Statue of Liberty? Pedestal or crown tickets are required. Check www.statuecruises.com for available dates and times.

… the Crown? Those wishing to visit the Crown must be able to walk approximately 10 floors of stairs. This includes a narrow spiral staircase inside the Statue's body. Crown tickets are available by reservation usually 3-4 months in advance.

… the Torch? No. The torch, accessed by a narrow 40 foot ladder, has been closed to the public since July 30, 1916.

… the Fort? To access the top of Fort Wood, visitors must have pedestal or crown tickets.

Are there storage facilities on Liberty Island? There are lockers available for visitors entering the monument with pedestal or crown access tickets. "Grounds Only" ticket holders must keep all of their items with them at all times.

I'm using a car to get to the ferry. Is parking available? Ferries depart from Battery Park in New York City, and from Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ. Although private parking garages are available in New York City, parking is usually very limited and very expensive. There is ample car and bus parking at the ferry area in Liberty State Park, New Jersey. Parking fees are nominal compared to parking in New York.

 

Plan Your Visit to the Statue of Liberty

Do I need to buy a ticket to visit the island?
Yes, tickets are needed to board the ferry. Statue City Cruises is the authorized ferry concession for the park.

I have a question about my ticket purchase. Who should I contact?
Statue City Cruises is the ferry operator.

What are my food options?
Food & beverage concessions are located on Liberty Island and Ellis Island or you can bring your own (large coolers will not be allowed through security screening). Food & Beverage Concessionaire- Evelyn Hill, Inc. [phone]. A refreshments menu can be found on our concessionaire's webpage at Evelyn Hill Inc.

Are pets allowed in the park?
No, pets are not permitted on the ferry system or in the park itself. Service animals, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are permitted.

May I have a special event on the island?
Special events can be arranged through our permit process. For more information, visit our Permits page.

May I dock my personal vessel at the island?
No. Due to security concerns, docking of private vessels is not permitted. All visits to the island must be made through Statue City Cruises; the official transportation concessionaire.

May I use my National Park Pass when visiting this park?
No. National Park passes are valid at parks that charge an entrance fee. Liberty and Ellis Islands are fee-exempt by law. The price of the ferry ticket covers the cost of transportation by the concessionaire.

Can I get a reserved tour?
Ranger-guided tours are offered to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be reserved. Program listings are posted each day at the Liberty Island Information Center. Frequency is dependent upon daily staffing levels.

 

About the Statue of Liberty

What materials make up the Statue of Liberty? The Statue of Liberty is made of copper that is 3/32 of in. (about 2.5mm) thick, the same as two American pennies placed together. The internal structure is comprised of cast iron and stainless steel.

Why is the Statue green? The Statue's copper has naturally oxidized to form the outer patina or green coating. Upon completion in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was more of a traditional brown color like an American penny. It took about thirty years for the Statue of Liberty to fully oxidize and form a patina.

How tall is the Statue of Liberty? The Statue is 305 feet and 1 inch (about 93m) in height from the ground to the tip of the flame. This is the equivalent height of a 22-story building. In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was the tallest structure in New York City. See more Statue Statistics.

Why is the Statue of Liberty a woman? Classical images of Liberty are often depicted in a female form. The Statue of Liberty was modeled after the Roman Goddess of Liberty, Libertas.

Which direction does the Statue face? The Statue of Liberty was placed inside the existing Fort Wood and faces southeast. The Statue's position makes it a welcoming symbol for arriving ships.

Does the Statue of Liberty ever get struck by lightning? Yes! As one of the tallest structures in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty gets struck by lightning on an infrequent basis. The Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite pedestal.

How many Torches have there been on the Statue? The Statue is holding her second torch. The first torch's interior support structure corroded beyond repair. French artists created a new torch to the exact specifications that the artist Bartholdi originally desired; a copper flame gilded in 24K gold. It is reflective of the sun's rays in daytime, and lighted by floodlights at night. The original torch was removed in 1984, and is now on display in our museum.

 

Symbols on the Statue of Liberty

What does the torch represent? The torch is a symbol of enlightenment; since her official name is "Liberty Enlightening the World."

What is written on the Statue's tablet? The tablet in the Statue's left hand has the date of American Independence: July 4, 1776. The date is written in Roman numerals, and reads "July IV MDCCLXXVI."

What does the Statue wear on her head? The Statue of Liberty wears a crown, or diadem. The rays above this crown represent light, like a halo, since she is the Roman Goddess Libertas.

Where on the Statue are the broken chains located, and what do the chains mean? The broken chains are near the Statue's feet, and are not visible from the ground level. Many believe that the chains represent breaking free from tyranny and servitude.

 

Keep in Contact with the Statue of Liberty...

What should I do if I've lost an item on Liberty Island? If you are still at Liberty, check-in at the Information Center. If the item hasn't been recovered, fill out a Lost and Found report at that time. We will contact you if your item gets turned in by another visitor. If you discover your loss after you leave the park, make a report.

How can I contact the park? For more information, please Contact Us.

Does the Statue of Liberty have a Facebook page? Yes! Our Facebook username is StatueLibrtyNPS.

Is Liberty Island on X (formally known asTwitter)? Yes! Visit us on X by following @StatueEllisNPS.

Is Liberty Island on Instagram? Yes! Visit us on Instagram by following@StatueEllisNPS.

Where are Statue webcams located? There are multiple webcams located on the torch. We invite you to visit our webcam page at Photos and Multimedia.

 

Statue of Liberty Geography

Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey? The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island; which is federal property administered by the National Park Service. The island is part of the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York.

Is the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? No. The park is comprised of two separate islands; Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island. Ellis Island, a former federal immigration station, is now the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Is Liberty Island a man-made island? Liberty Island has received some landfill on its western shore for administrative and maintenance purposes. However, the land directly under and around the Statue of Liberty is natural. Learn about the Island's original usage by going to our History and Culture page.