Frequently Asked Questions

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 inside the base of the Statue of Liberty and is only accessible to visitors who have pedestal or crown tickets.

... the Ellis Island Immigration Museum? Yes. Artifacts, documents, and other historic items are available throughout the exhibits and within the research library. 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. Learn how to plan your visit to Ellis Island.

… any 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 stairs, including a narrow spiral staircase inside the Statue's body. Crown tickets are available ONLY by advanced reservation.

… the Torch? No. The Torch has been closed to the public since the "Black Tom" explosion on July 30, 1916.

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

Are there storage facilities at Liberty Island? Yes, for those visitors heading to the crown or pedestal. "Grounds Only" ticket holders must keep all of their items with them at all times.

If 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 may be available to you in NY, parking is usually very limited and will be expensive. There is ample car and bus parking at the ferry area in Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and parking fees are nominal compared to parking in New York City.

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 Cruises is the only authorized concession for the park.

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

May I purchase a ticket for the inside of the Statue of Liberty? Advanced reservations for the inside of the Statue of Liberty are currently available at www.statuecruises.com.

What are my food options? Contact our food concessionaire, Evelyn Hill, Inc., located on Liberty and Ellis Islands or you can bring your own. (Large coolers will not be allowed through security screening.)

Are pets allowed in the park? No, pets are not permitted on the ferry system or in the park itself. Documented service/assist animals are exempt from this regulation.

May I have a special event on the island? Some activities require a permit. For more information, visit our Permits page.

May I dock my personal vessel at the island? No. Docking of private vessels is not permitted. All visits to the island must be through Statue 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 cost of the ferry ticket is not an entrance fee. Tickets cover the cost of transportation.

Can I get a reserved tour? Ranger-guided tours are offered to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. Program listings are posted each day at the Liberty Island Information Center and 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 3/32in. (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 the patina.

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

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 the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty does get struck by lightning. The Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite pedestal.

How many Torches have there been on the Statue? The Statue's current torch, added in 1986, is a copper flame covered 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 a display piece inside the Pedestal lobby.

Symbols on the Statue of Liberty

What does the torch represent? The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue's official name represents its most important symbol, "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.

What are the spikes on the crown? Many believe the seven spikes are symbolism representing rays of light radiating from the statue's head; 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 the chains represent breaking free from tyranny and servitude.

Keep in Contact with the Statue of Liberty...

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

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

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

Where are the Statue webcams located? Five camera are located on the Statue's torch balcony. One camera points up at the gold flame. A second camera looks down at the Statue's crown and body. Three more camera point towards the new York Harbor, providing sweeping views of the city. Out webcames are avaiable under our Photos and Multimedia page.

Statue of Liberty Geography

Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey? The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, federal property administered by the National Park Service, located within 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, the former federal immigration station, is currently a 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.