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Statue Of Liberty's Crown To Reopen After Year Of Renovations

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Statue of Liberty is having a birthday party this weekend.

The statue's crown will reopen on Sunday just in time to celebrate Lady Liberty's 126th birthday.

The statue has undergone a yearlong renovation to modernize its interior and improve access for the disabled.

The $30 million renovation project included replacing the stairs to the crown and making them less steep. There are now 393 steps, up from 354.

For the first time, visitors using wheelchairs will be able to visit one of the observation decks at the top of the pedestal.

National Parks Service spokeswoman Mindi Rambo said that is as high as it's possible to provide wheelchair access while preserving the historic structure.

The statue's interior has been closed since October 2011, though Liberty Island in New York Harbor was open to visitors.

For more information and to reserve a ticket click here.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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