New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other government officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the Statue of Liberty on July 4th, 2013.
The Statue of Liberty reopened to the public on the Fourth of July this year. It was closed for nine months because the island it sits on was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
The 126-year-old statue was not damaged. But the storm flooded much of Liberty Island. Buildings were damaged, railings were broken, and docks and brick pathways were torn up. The storm nearly destroyed the systems that provide electricity and water to the island. Workers fixed or replaced most of what was damaged. They also did some work that will help protect the island from future storms.
Thousands of people visited the Statue of Liberty when it reopened on America’s birthday. The celebration included a fife-and-drum marching band dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other government leaders gave speeches. That night, visitors enjoyed watching the Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky above the statue.
Image credit: ©Anthony Behar/Sipa USA via AP Images
Related Links
- Statue of Liberty National Monument
Visit the official website of the Statue of Liberty.
- She’s Back: Lady Liberty by the Numbers
Learn facts about the Statue of Liberty as well as information about its reopening in this video. - Statue of Liberty Reopens for July 4th
Watch this video to learn more about the reopening of Liberty Island and the damage that was done during Hurricane Sandy.