English
Considered as the greatest symbol of American democracy and known throughout the world as the most representative icon of the Big Apple, the Statue of Liberty, or Lady Liberty as New Yorkers call it, is the most famous monument in the United States.
Lady Liberty was the largest iron structure ever built at its time with 45 meters height and 204 tons weight. It took over 200 men working day and night during seven days a week for nine years to build it. The statue stands on Bedloe´s Island, which was renamed as Liberty Island in 1956 by a law passed by the American Congress.
Photo: slagheap
Although the statue doesn’t really have a high monetary value, it has great value as one of the icons of the American ideals of freedom and democracy, and that is why it is monitored 24 hours, seven days a week by the marine guard of the NYPD. Lady Liberty has been the target of several attacks in history: in 1916 it was badly damaged by an explosion triggered by German spies, in 1956 it was kidnapped by a Hungarian nationalist group who hung its flag on the lady’s face, in 1980 a Croatian terrorist triggered a bomb inside the face of the statue and in 2012 it was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
On July 4, 2013, Lady Liberty reopened its doors, after being closed 18 months due to the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock everyday, once again, to admire the most famous monument in New York since then. However, if you prefer to admire the statue without running into mobs of tourists, you have several options:
Battery Park City
The Battery Park City is one of the best locations to take pictures of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Located on the banks of Hudson River, the park is equipped with multiple outdoor spaces, which are always full of innovative activities during the summer months. After taking some photos of the statue, don’t forget to visit the North Cove Marina, the Irish Hunger Memorial and the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Considered as one of the most famous of the Big Apple, Brooklyn Heights Promenade is the perfect place to enjoy an evening with the company of your loved ones, while enjoying a night view taken from a romantic film that includes the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
Sightseeing Cruise
If this is your first time in NYC the best you can do is to get onboard a cruise around Manhattan, so you have the opportunity to learn more of its architecture and history. Enjoy the best angles of the statue of liberty, you won’t regret it.
Fairway Supermarket (Red Hook)
Fairway is a very famous supermarket located in Brooklyn where you can get the best ingredients for a BBQ and let professional chefs cook them for you. Enjoy a great family time on the Fairway terrace as you get fantastic views of the statue.
