Statue Of Liberty To Close For Yearlong Renovations To Make Interior Safer, More Accessible
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Statue of Liberty will be closed for a year starting this fall to undergo renovations.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney With Reaction From Visitors At Liberty State Park
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Starting October 29, the monument will be getting a $27.25 million makeover to make the interior safer and more accessible.
"Two years ago, when we reopened Lady Liberty's crown to visitors for the first time since the September 11 attacks, I promised that we would continue to upgrade the interior to make it safer and more accessible for all," U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement. "With today's announcement, we are taking a major step in bringing a 19th Century icon into the 21st Century."
The renovations include work on the statue's base and pedestal, but park officials say Liberty Island will remain open to visitors.
Once completed, the interior of Lady Liberty will have new stairways and elevators as well as upgrades to water, electrical and fire suppression systems.
October 28, a day before the monument is slated to be closed, marks the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
The monument was a gift from France and was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It was designated as a National Monument in 1924.
About 3.5 million people visit the Statue of Liberty each year.
For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm.
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