For those of you in the NYC area or with au pairs planning a visit, our most famous icon symbolizing the American people and culture will re-open on July 4th after damage from Hurricane Sandy. On October 29th the 820 mile (1320km) wide hurricane brought high winds and storm surges to much of the Eastern United States, including New York City. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, a 12 acre island located a mile south of lower Manhattan. Normally, the confines of the New York Harbor protect Liberty Island from extreme weather. However, when Hurricane Sandy hit, Liberty Island was in the direct path of a massive storm surge. Nearby in Battery Park, water rose 13.8 feet (4.2m). On Liberty Island, that meant nearly 75% of the Island was under water.
The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.
Visits to Liberty Island can be planned by going to the website:
http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/statue2012reopening.htm
June 17 – The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France in 1885 to recognize the French-American cooperation during the American Revolution. She stands 305 feet (93 meters) high in New York Harbor. The seven rays on her crown represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world.