The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, better known simply as the Statue of Liberty, is a monumentous monument located in New York Harbor in New York City, New York. Situated across the 5.95 ha property on Liberty Island, audiences can have multiple experiences with the monument and various features that have been created across the island, highlighting what it can look like for a monument to connect with audiences on multiple levels.
Pieces of History
Dedicated in 1886, the Statue of Liberty is the result of an endeavor to celebrate the close relationship between France and America. The statue immediately became an attraction for the nation due to the connection it enabled with the concepts of liberty and democracy. These concepts were cultivated and enriched by the experiences audiences could have near and inside the monument itself.
Audiences are able to enter the statue’s base and can ascend 224 stairs to an observation deck at the top of the pedestal to get a 360-degree look at their surroundings. Crown access is limited due to safety and accessibility requirements and is reservation-based. Visitors have not been able to access the torch since an incident in 1914. The bottom of the pedestal features a museum that contains Statue of Liberty relics and memorabilia. When the original torch was replaced in 1984 it moved to this museum.
An effort to create an even more extensive collection of the history of the monuemt results in the creation of the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island. The torch was moved into it when it opened in 2019, but the facility also has more than 500 photographs, pieces of memorabilia and graphics from more than 100 different sources. The museum contains a theater but also provides audiences with especially scenic looks at the Statue of Liberty as well as New York City.
Elsewhere on Liberty Island, various markers and concession stands provide audiences with a sense of history and connection to the history and legacy that is celebrated across the sited. Featured as an essential element of tours and maps that define the region, the multiple experiences that audiences can have highlights what it can mean for a single monument to serve as an attraction for audiences on countless levels.
Engaging with a Universal and National Legacy
Audiences can connect with the Statue of Liberty in multiple ways, whether it’s by viewing it from afar, visiting the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island or by entering the monument itself. This variety of experiences has helped the Statue of Liberty to become a landmark for audiences across the world, creating an economic and cultural impact that spans the eras.
