Access to the Statue of Liberty, which has been closed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be relaxed beginning this summer, although tourists will still not be allowed inside the statue itself.
Despite earlier reports that the statue would never reopen, it appears this will be the summer of Liberty.
Pledges of $7 million in donations, including a $100,000 gift from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will finance upgrades that were necessary before the monument could be reopened.
Secretary of Interior Gale Norton said Tuesday that the observation deck on the statue's pedestal will be reopened sometime in late July.
Currently, tourists can visit Liberty Island but are not allowed inside the 151-foot statue or its pedestal.
Norton said an examination of the 118-year-old national monument in New York Harbor revealed potential fire problems and a lack of exits. Security screening procedures, much like those at airports, will be implemented along with a reservation system to reduce long lines.
After the upgrades are completed, the public will be allowed to enjoy the panoramic view from the observation deck at the top of the pedestal, about 16 stories above ground. They will no longer be allowed into the crown, reached via narrow and winding stairs, because it cannot accommodate large numbers of tourists and does not meet local fire, building or safety codes.
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Statue of Liberty
