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Statue of Liberty National Monument

Coordinates: 40°41′39″N 74°2′35″W / 40.69417°N 74.04306°W / 40.69417; -74.04306
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Statue of Liberty National Monument
LocationNew York City, New York
and Jersey City, New Jersey
Coordinates40°41′39″N 74°2′35″W / 40.69417°N 74.04306°W / 40.69417; -74.04306
Governing bodyU.S. National Park Service
WebsiteStatue of Liberty
Ellis Island
DesignatedOctober 15, 1924
Statue of Liberty[1]
DesignatedMay 11, 1965
Ellis Island[2]
Official nameStatue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island
DesignatedOctober 15, 1966[3]
Reference no.66000058
Official nameStatue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island
DesignatedMay 27, 1971
Reference no.1535[4]
Statue of Liberty National Monument is located in Hudson County, New Jersey
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Statue of Liberty National Monument is located in New York City
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Statue of Liberty National Monument (New York City)
Statue of Liberty National Monument is located in New Jersey
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Statue of Liberty National Monument (New Jersey)
Statue of Liberty National Monument is located in New York
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Statue of Liberty National Monument (New York)
Statue of Liberty National Monument is located in the United States
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Statue of Liberty National Monument (the United States)

The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a United States National Monument comprising Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York.[5] It includes the 1886 Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and the Statue of Liberty Museum, both situated on Liberty Island, as well as the former immigration station at Ellis Island which includes the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital.

The monument is managed by the National Park Service as part of the National Parks of New York Harbor office.

History

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President Calvin Coolidge used his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare the statue a national monument in 1924.[1] In 1937, by proclamation 2250, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the monument to include all of Bedloe's Island, and in 1956, an act of Congress officially renamed it Liberty Island.[6] Ellis Island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument by proclamation of President Lyndon Johnson on May 11, 1965.[7][8][2] The United States historic district, a single listing on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, was designated in 1966.[9]

The islands were closed during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and suffered severe damage.[10][11][12][13][14] Liberty Island reopened July 4, 2013, while Ellis Island reopened October 24, 2013.[15] Storm damage and the necessary repairs for them have heavily affected Ellis Island as hurricanes have become more common in the New York/New Jersey area.[16]

On March 16, 2020, both islands closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] On July 20, 2020, the Statue of Liberty reopened partially under New York City's Phase IV guidelines;[18] Ellis Island reopened partially in August 2020.[19]

Significance

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The Statue of Liberty is a world-famous symbol of freedom, given in 1886 by France to the United States in celebration of American Independence. Nearby Ellis Island was the first stop for millions of immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[20] The national monument recalls this period of massive immigration to the United States.[21]

Inside the statue, a plaque added in 1903 is engraved with words from "The New Colossus", an 1883 poem by Emma Lazarus:[22]: 165–166 [23]: 172–175 

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-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Location and access

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Ellis and Liberty Islands (bottom center) in Upper New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River (left) near Liberty State Park

The national monument is located in Upper New York Bay, east of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, and southwest of Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan in New York City. Entrance is free, but there is a charge for the ferry service that all visitors must use.[24]

In 2007, a concession was granted to Statue Cruises to operate the transportation and ticketing facilities, replacing the Circle Line which had operated the service since 1953.[25] The waters are patrolled by the U.S. Park Police[26][27] to enforce the restriction on private boat landings. Ferries depart from both parks and all boats stop at both islands, enabling passengers to visit both islands and choose either destination on the return trip.[28][29]

Tickets can be purchased at Castle Clinton in Battery Park or at the Communipaw Terminal in Liberty State Park. Along with the ferry ticket, visitors intending to enter the statue's pedestal must also obtain a complimentary ticket.[30] Those wishing to climb the 154 stairs to the crown within the statue must obtain a special ticket, which may be reserved up to a year in advance. Ten people per group, three groups per hour, are permitted to ascend, allowing for a total of 240 per day. After an obligatory second security screening, they may bring only medication and cameras, leaving all other items in lockers provided.[30] Visitors intending to tour Ellis Island's south side, namely the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, must purchase a "Hard Hat Tour" ticket, which charges an additional fee on top of the regular ferry ticket.[31][32]

In 2019, the NPS announced that starting on May 16, 2019, tour groups will be banned from certain parts of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, such as the Statue of Liberty's observation deck and the Ellis Island museum. The NPS cited overcrowding for its decision. Although only 1,000 of the site's 24,000 daily visitors travel to the monument within tour groups, the NPS stated that these groups tend to block pedestrian flow within the monument.[33][34]

Jurisdiction

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Liberty and Ellis Islands

Liberty Island and Ellis Island have been the property of the United States government since 1800[6] and 1808, respectively.[35] Historical circumstances have led to the unusual situation of Liberty Island and 3.3 acres (13,000 m2) of Ellis Island being exclaves of New York, both completely surrounded by New Jersey. The dominion, jurisdiction, and sovereignty of the islands have variously been the subject of a colonial land grant,[36] a provincial governor's directive,[37] and an interstate compact,[38] as well as several court cases and a U.S. Supreme Court decision. The result of which is that the natural land masses including Liberty Island and the original acreage on Ellis Island are part of New York City, and the 24 acres (97,000 m2) created by land reclamation at Ellis Island belongs to New Jersey, all surrounded by the municipal borders of Jersey City. Jurisdiction not superseded by the federal government falls to the appropriate state.[39][40]

Superintendents

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Sources:[41][42][43][44][45]

  • John Townsley 1965–1967
  • Henry Schmidt 1967–1970
  • Jerry Wagers 1970–1971
  • "Administration supervised by New York District Office from 12/26/1971 to 1/06/1974" Possibly overseen in this time by James Godbolt.
  • William Hendrickson 1974–1975
  • Appears to have not been an acting superintendent between Hendrickson and Moffit.
  • David Moffit 1977–1987
  • Kevin Buckley 1987–1990
  • Myra Harrison 1990-1990
  • Meridith Belkov 1990–1996
  • Diane Dayson 1996–2003
  • Cynthia Garrett 2003–2009
  • David Luchsinger 2009–2013
  • John Piltzecker 2013–
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See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b "National Monument Proclamations under the Antiquities Act". National Park Service. January 16, 2003. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Ellis Island Time". Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. January 16, 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  3. ^ National Park Service (1994). National Register of Historic Places, 1966–1994: Cumulative List Through January 1, 1994s. Washington DC: National Park Service. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-89133-254-1.
  4. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places — Hudson County". New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  5. ^ Frequently Asked Questions Archived August 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, National Park Service, accessed September 27, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Early History of Bedloe's Island". Statue of Liberty Historical Handbook. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  7. ^ "Proclamation 3656—Adding Ellis Island to the Statue of Liberty National Monument | the American Presidency Project". Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Mohr, Charles (May 12, 1965). "Ellis Isle Made National Shrine" (PDF). The New York Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "National Register of Historical Places – NEW JERSEY (NJ), Hudson County". www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  10. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (November 8, 2012). "Storm Leaves Lady Liberty and Ellis Island Cut Off From Visitors". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  11. ^ Fransco, Angel= (November 30, 2012). "Statue of Liberty Was Unscathed by Hurricane, but Its Home Took a Beating". pp. The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to remain closed for remainder of 2012". Star-Ledger. November 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  13. ^ Mcshane, Larry (November 30, 2012). "Statue of Liberty will remain closed as post-Hurricane Sandy repairs continue". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  14. ^ "After the Storm at Ellis Island". National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  15. ^ "Ellis Island to reopen a year after Hurricane Sandy". Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  16. ^ Goldstein, Rich (May 8, 2015). "How Ellis Island Survived Hurricane Sandy". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  17. ^ Kim, Allen (March 16, 2020). "Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island close due to coronavirus outbreak". CNN. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "Statue of Liberty to Open Early Next Week, Ellis Island Kept Closed". NBC New York. July 13, 2020. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island partially reopen". News 12 – The Bronx. August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "Ellis Island - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com". HISTORY.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  21. ^ "Statue of Liberty National Monument". National Park Service. December 31, 2007. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  22. ^ Khan, Yasmin Sabina (2010). Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-4851-5.
  23. ^ Moreno, Barry (2000). The Statue of Liberty Encyclopedia. New York City: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7385-3689-7.
  24. ^ "Fees & Passes". Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). May 20, 2019. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  25. ^ Ramirez, Anthony (June 29, 2007). "Circle Line Loses Pact for Ferries to Liberty Island". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  26. ^ "US Park Police". Ferry Map. US Park Police. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  27. ^ "Us Department of Interior Awards Moose Boats a Contract for a M1-44 Patrol Boat". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  28. ^ "NPS: Liberty and Ellis Island ferry map". Ferry Map. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  29. ^ "Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island". Statue Cruises. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Frequently asked questions". Statue of Liberty. National Park Service. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  31. ^ "Unrestored Ellis Island Buildings Opening for the First Time in 60 Years – Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. September 15, 2014. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  32. ^ "HARD HAT TOURS". www.saveellisisland.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  33. ^ Rosenberg, Zoe (May 1, 2019). "Statue of Liberty will ban tour guides from some of its most popular areas". Curbed NY. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  34. ^ "Everyone's Welcome at the Statue of Liberty. Except Tour Guides". The New York Times. April 1, 2019. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  35. ^ "Fort Wood". www.dmna.state.ny.us. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  36. ^ "The Federal and State constitutions, colonial charters, and other organic laws of the state[s], territories, and colonies now or heretofore forming the United States of America /compiled and edited under the Act of Congress of June 30, 1906". avalon.law.yale.edu. December 18, 1998. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  37. ^ Moss, Mitchell (Summer 1988). "New York vs New Jersey: A New Perspective". Portfolio (PANYNJ). 1 (2). Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
  38. ^ General Services Administration Offices of General Council (February 11, 1963). "Ellis Island Its Legal Status" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  39. ^ For previous suits, see:
  40. ^ For current jurisdiction, see:
  41. ^ "Diane Harris Dayson (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  42. ^ "Ellis Island Chronology – Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  43. ^ "National Park Service: Historic Listings of NPS Officials". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  44. ^ "Luchsinger Named Superintendent of Statue of Liberty NM – National Parks of New York Harbor (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  45. ^ "Piltzecker selected as Superintendent of Statue of Liberty NM and Ellis Island – National Parks of New York Harbor (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.

Further reading

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Statue of Liberty:

Ellis Island:

Jurisdiction:

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