Statue of Liberty National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Liberty National Monument |
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| Location | Jersey City, New Jersey and New York City, New York |
| Governing body | U.S. National Park Service |
| Website | Statue of Liberty Ellis Island |
| Designated | October 15, 1924 Statue of Liberty |
| Designated | May 11, 1965 Ellis Island |
| Official name: Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island | |
| Designated | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference no. | 66000058 |
| Official name: Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island | |
| Designated | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference no. | 1535 |
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The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a special protected area in the United States. It includes two important islands: Liberty Island and Ellis Island. These islands are located in the states of New Jersey and New York.
This monument was created in 1924. It features the famous 1886 Statue of Liberty, also known as Liberty Enlightening the World. This huge statue was made by the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. You can also find the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island.
Ellis Island is also part of the monument. It used to be a busy place where immigrants arrived in the U.S. It includes the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, which helped new arrivals. The National Park Service takes care of this monument.
Contents
History of the Monument
How the Statue Became a National Monument
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge used a special law called the Antiquities Act. This law allowed him to declare the Statue of Liberty a national monument. This means it became a protected historical site.
Later, in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the monument bigger. He added all of Bedloe's Island to it. In 1956, this island was officially renamed Liberty Island.
Ellis Island Joins the Monument
Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965. This happened when President Lyndon Johnson signed a special order. In 1966, the whole area was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places.
After Hurricane Sandy
In October 2012, a big storm called Hurricane Sandy hit the area. The islands were closed because they were badly damaged. Liberty Island reopened on July 4, 2013. Ellis Island opened again a few months later, on October 24, 2013.
Why the Monument is Important
A Symbol of Freedom
The Statue of Liberty is known all over the world. It stands for freedom and hope. France gave the statue to the United States in 1886. It was a gift to celebrate the friendship between the two countries.
Ellis Island: A Gateway for Immigrants
Nearby Ellis Island was a very important place. For millions of immigrants, it was their first stop in the U.S. This happened mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The national monument helps us remember this time when many people came to the United States.
The Poem on the Statue
Inside the Statue of Liberty, there is a plaque. It has words from a famous poem called "The New Colossus". Emma Lazarus wrote this poem in 1883. It talks about welcoming people from all over the world.
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!
Visiting the Monument
Location and How to Get There
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is in Upper New York Bay. It is east of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. It is also southwest of Battery Park in New York City.
You don't have to pay to enter the monument itself. However, all visitors must take a ferry to get there. There is a fee for the ferry ride.
Since 2007, a company called Statue Cruises runs the ferry service. Before that, the Circle Line had been doing it since 1953. Police boats patrol the waters to stop private boats from landing. Ferries leave from both Battery Park and Liberty State Park. All boats stop at both islands. This means you can visit both and choose where to return.
Getting Tickets
You can buy ferry tickets at Castle Clinton in Battery Park. You can also buy them at the Communipaw Terminal in Liberty State Park.
If you want to go inside the statue's pedestal, you need a free extra ticket. If you want to climb the 154 stairs to the crown, you need a special ticket. These crown tickets can be reserved up to a year ahead of time. Only 10 people per group can go up, with three groups per hour. This allows 240 people to go up each day.
Before climbing, you go through a second security check. You can only bring medicine and cameras. All other items must be left in lockers. If you want to tour the south side of Ellis Island, including the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, you need a "Hard Hat Tour" ticket. This costs extra.
Changes for Tour Groups
In 2019, the National Park Service made a change. Tour groups are now not allowed in some parts of the monument. This includes the Statue of Liberty's observation deck and the Ellis Island museum. This decision was made because of overcrowding. Even though only a small number of visitors are in tour groups, they can block the flow of other visitors.
Who Owns the Islands?
The U.S. government has owned Liberty Island since 1800. It has owned Ellis Island since 1808. It's a bit unusual because Liberty Island and a small part of Ellis Island (about 3.3 acres) are part of New York. But they are completely surrounded by New Jersey.
The rest of Ellis Island (about 24 acres) was created by adding land. This part, and the water areas around it, belong to New Jersey. So, both states share responsibility for different parts of the monument.
Other Places to See Nearby
- Battery Park - This is where the New York ferry leaves for the monument.
- Castle Clinton - You can buy tickets here in New York.
- Liberty State Park - This is where the New Jersey ferry leaves for the monument.
- Communipaw Terminal - You can buy tickets here in New Jersey.
- Governors Island - Another island in New York Harbor.
- Governors Island National Monument - A national monument on Governors Island.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento nacional de la Estatua de la Libertad, Isla Ellis e Isla de la Libertad para niños
