NEW YORK – One of New York’s most iconic landmarks is the iconic Statue of Liberty, a place that started as a romantic idea and has become the most monumental gift in American history. The statue stands today as a unique symbol of hope and spirit.

If you are in New York and want to visit this tourist spot, here we share how you can visit it and a bit of its history.

How to get to the Statue of Liberty?

To get to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, you must first purchase a ferry ticket from the partners of Statue CruisesAs the only merchant authorized to take passengers to the islands, Statue Cruises tickets give you access to ferries, grounds, museums and audio guides.

The ferry departs from two placesÑ

  • Clinton Castle In battery park located in New York: Here you will find the map of where the ferry departs. To get here:
    • And the subways:
      • Metro line 1 and get off at the last stop of Southern Ferry
      • The trains express lines 4 or 5 and get off at the stop Bowling green
      • Local trains of the lines THE from Brooklyn/Queens to Whitehall Street
    • By bus:
      • Bus M1, M6 or M15 hasta Southern Ferry which is the last stop.
    • In car:
      • Since East Coast take the FDR Drive South to exit 1, South Ferry/Battery Park
      • From Western coast volume Westside Highway South (Route 9A) until battery park
      • NOTE: Street and private garage parking is limited in the neighborhood of Battery park.
  • The Ferry at Liberty State Park | Jersey City, New Jersey: Here you will find the map of the departure point of the ferry.
    • By car:
      • Take exit 14-B from The New Jersey Turnpike; follow signs for Liberty State Park.
      • Ample parking available at Liberty State Parkfor a small fee.
    • Public transport:
      • take the light rail Hudson-Bergen (HBLR) at the station Liberty State Park; walk or cycle one kilometer Audrey Zapp Drive at the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park
    • HBLR can be accessed via PATH at Hoboken Station or Newport Station (Jersey City)

Where can I get the tickets?

To purchase tickets, go here or you can also call this phone number 1-877-523-9849 (877-LADY-TIX).

Ferry schedules change seasonally and during peak tourist periods. Updated schedules are posted on the Statue City Cruises website. To guarantee entry, it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

What does my ticket include?

Tickets include round-trip ferry transport provided by Statue Cruises, access to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Immigration Museum, and audio tours on each island.

How much are the tickets ?

Tickets for the domain:

  • Adult: $23.50
  • Mayor (62+) $18
  • Youth (4-12) $12
  • Child (0-3) Free Entry

A little history

It was in 1865 that the Frenchman Édouard de Laboulaye proposed the idea of ​​presenting a monumental gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. A strong supporter of the United States, Laboulaye wanted to commemorate the centenary of the declaration of independence, as well as celebrate the close relations between France and the United States. He was also moved by the recent abolition of slavery in the United States, which promoted American ideals of freedom and freedom.

The sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi was present at Laboulaye’s proclamation. Allied with Laboulaye’s cause, Bartholdi began conceptualizing the colossal structure that would soon become known as Liberty Enlightening the World.

Bartholdi’s design encompassed a lot of symbolism: his crown represented light with its points evoking the rays of the sun reaching out into the world; the tablet, inscribed July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, indicating American independence; to symbolize the end of slavery, Bartholdi placed a shackle and broken chains at the foot of the statue.

France would be responsible for creating the statue and assembling it in the United States, while the American people would fund and build the pedestal.

Construction of the statue was completed in France in July 1884. The huge sculpture towered over the rooftops of Paris awaiting its journey across the sea.

Back in the United States, the same year, architect Richard Morris Hunt was selected to design the statue’s granite plinth, and construction began.

For its transatlantic voyage aboard the frigate Isère, the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packaged in 214 boxes. The ship arrived in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885. Awaiting the construction of its pedestal, the statue lay in pieces on what was then called Bedloe’s Island. The pedestal was completed in April 1886 and finally, on October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland oversaw the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.

For centuries, the island was an important source of food for the Lenape natives and, later, for Dutch settlers. In 1807, the US Army considered the island a military post and built an 11-point fort to protect New York Harbor. Later renamed Fort Wood, the structure now serves as the base for the statue’s pedestal. The meaning and relevance of the statue has also evolved over time. Perhaps most notable is the association with the welcoming “huddled masses”. In 1903, a plaque representing “The New Colossus” was affixed to the pedestal. With this, Lady Liberty’s significance grew as an inspiration to immigrants who sailed alongside her en route to the United States.

For more information, go here.

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