One of New York’s most iconic landmarks is also one of America’s: the Statue of Liberty, standing in the middle of New York Harbor as it has since 1885. The statue was famously a gift from France, built to a design by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and with structural engineering overseen by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was one of the first large-scale curtain wall structures—that is, one where weight is supported by an internal frame and not by the exterior walls. As one of New York’s most visited sights, some tickets sell out far in advance. There are two different levels of tickets: pedestal and crown. Tickets to the pedestal and especially those to the crown are often gone months in advance, so plan accordingly.
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Statue of Liberty National Monument
One of New York’s most iconic landmarks is also one of America’s: the Statue of Liberty, standing in the middle of New York Harbor as it has since 1885. The statue was famously a gift from France, built to a design by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and with structural engineering overseen by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was one of the first large-scale curtain wall structures—that is, one where weight is supported by an internal frame and not by the exterior walls. As one of New York’s most visited sights, some tickets sell out far in advance. There are two different levels of tickets: pedestal and crown. Tickets to the pedestal and especially those to the crown are often gone months in advance, so plan accordingly.
Coming Home to NYC
An excerpt from a poem to commemorate the city in which I live: ‘Like a divine answer to a selfish prayer, the moving vessel slams to a halting, screeching, shaking, screaming stop and you are swept up in an exiting flow of sheep or salmon or city dwellers and commuters as you make or brake your way back into the city and feel the sweet sting of fresh air in your lungs.’ -Jorge Franco IV
Sunset on Lady Liberty
One of the best times to see the Statue of Liberty is at sunset. The Circle Line has a 2-hour cruise where you get a close-up view of Lady Liberty and also see the amazing New York City skyline as the ship sails down the Hudson and up the East River.
Standing Guard
Being a New Yorker, I rarely join the tourists for the $17 boat ride out to Liberty Island itself but I see Lady Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry, Battery Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and other vantage points throughout New York City and Northern New Jersey. An interesting little known fact about our green lady in the bay, via Wikipedia: The statue is situated in Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island, south of Ellis Island. Both islands were ceded by New York to the federal government in 1800. As agreed in an 1834 compact between New York and New Jersey that set the state border at the bay’s midpoint, the original islands remain New York territory despite their location on the New Jersey side of the state line. Land created by reclamation at Ellis is New Jersey territory.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, ironically in response to the repressive nature of the Napolean government. It a symbol of freedom that has been said to have caused immigrants entering New York Harbor to burst in to tears upon seeing her. The famous poem about Lady Liberty was written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 for an auction to raise money for the statue’s pedestal construction. The poem is written for the millions of immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island and who would pass by the Statue in the final moments of their journey to new opportunity. The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” - Emma Lazarus, 1883
Statue of Liberty
From New York Harbor at sunset...
New York from the Hudson
It may be uber cheesy or classically touristy to take a dinner cruise on your first visit to New York but there’s a reason so many people book a ticket and sit through the terrible food upon a boat with other pushy tourists looking for that great photo of iconic New York. New York is a gorgeous city to be seen from the water. Any architect fiend or relaxed landscape enthusiast would be thrilled to sit atop of a boat, with a breeze, a glass of champagne and a camera while marvelling at the classic New York City sights.
Jersey girl!
Located in New York harbor, but on the Jersey side is one of the USA’s most popular and well known monuments - Lady Liberty!
Looking across the harbor
One of the best things about Liberty Island, other than the statue, has to be the views that it offers of the surroundings, especially Manhattan. You can even check it out from one of the old coin operated binocular machines. Check it out while the things still exist.
5 travel secrets for the savvy tourist
Do you love to make the most of your traveling experiences? Do you love to uncover hidden gems that most people would overlook? Do you travel regularly enough, that it is vital for you to save money wherever possible? If your answer to these questions is yes, you will need to read on. Below are five travel secrets for the savvy tourist. They will help you to create unique memories that you will never forget. Don’t just follow the crowd, make sure that you are getting the most out of your trips abroad. Wait until the last minute When you are traveling, it often pays to think ahead. However, sometimes a last minute trip is the perfect way to save money. If you are flexible with your arrangements, you could discover new places at a fraction of the price of a regular vacation. Try to embrace life as a free spirit. Make sure that you are always on the lookout for last minute flights and accommodation. This may not be the best option for traveling with a young family, but if you have fewer responsibilities, why not take full advantage of your freedom? Book and Air BnB If you do decide to plan ahead, you should consider booking an Air BnB, this is a great way to save money and to have a space of your own. Instead of feeling like a typical tourist by staying in a hotel, you can get a sense of what life is like for the locals. Buying your own food, cooking your own meals, and keeping your environment clean, may not be everyone’s ideal travel experience. However, if you like to be independent and alternative, this is the perfect option for you. Talk to the locals When you are abroad, don’t just interact with your fellow tourists. Instead, try to get to know the locals. It can be difficult to interact with someone who doesn’t speak the same language. However, it is a very rewarding thing to do. Locals are the best people to tell you about the secrets of the places you are visiting. They will know all of the nicest places to eat and the best shops for securing a great deal. Don’t let your photo album look like everyone else’s, try to understand the culture you are surrounded by on a deeper level. Go to an event When you are traveling, why not enjoy a fantastic event alongside the locals? Instead of just going to tourist destinations, create your memories differently. You can find resale event tickets online, for a wide variety of venues. Just imagine the joy of seeing your favorite artist perform in a completely different environment. You could also take a chance and go to an event that you don’t know too much about. You may be pleasantly surprised! Don’t follow the crowd When you are choosing somewhere to go, don’t just follow the crowd; try to find unique places that fewer people venture to. This can help you to save money, avoid queues, and most importantly, have the time of your life! Why not create a bucket list of all the unusual destinations that you would like to visit?