The Statue of Liberty, perhaps the most celebrated symbol of American ideals and exceptionalism, reopened after the 9/11 attacks on this historic day, August 3, 2004.
The world-renowned landmark had been closed to the public for nearly three years following the destruction of the nearby World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
That day, the Statue of Liberty stood stoically watching the horror unfold in Lower Manhattan, just over a mile from New York Harbor.
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“This beacon of hope and freedom is once again open to the public, sending a reassuring message to the world that liberty is alive and well in New York and shining brighter than ever,” said then-Governor George Pataki as he reopened the Statue of Liberty alongside then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Interior Secretary Gale Norton, other officials and members of the public.
The celebration featured pomp and solemnity, including a rendition of “You're a Grand Old Flag” and the national anthem by a military choir.
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But the event also came amid concerns about terrorist attacks looming over the country long after 9/11. New York City, nearby Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., all faced terrorist threats in the days leading up to the reopening ceremony.
A thick column of smoke rises into the sky from the area behind the Statue of Liberty, lower left, where the World Trade Center once stood, on September 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
“I think this shows the world that freedom cannot be intimidated,” Craig Manson, deputy secretary of the Interior, said ahead of the holiday.
“I think it's significant that despite the increased alert levels, we are moving ahead with reopening.”
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The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French people, opened to the public in 1886. It was conceived by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, who visited the United States in 1871 after serving his nation in the Franco-Prussian War.
The inner metal structure of Lady Liberty was manufactured by Gustave Eiffel, who immediately began building the iconic Paris tower that bears his name.
The Statue of Liberty has stood proudly in New York Harbor since 1886. It attracts some 3.5 million visitors a year, but has been closed for extended periods several times throughout its history. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
The Statue of Liberty has been closed for various reasons throughout its history.
It was closed for two years, from 1984 to 1986, for major restoration work prior to its centenary celebrations.
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The scaffolding around the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of 1980s pop culture, appearing in everything from movies to music videos.
The National Historic Landmark closed for eight months following Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, before reopening on July 4, 2013.
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The Statue of Liberty was again closed to the public for four months at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, before a gradual reopening period began in July.
An incredible view of the Statue of Liberty, the skyline and One World Trade Center. (iStock)
Visitors were able to see the statue's famous torch for the first 30 years of its existence.
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But public access to the torch ended after the deadly “Black Tom explosion” on July 30, 1916.
The Statue of Liberty's torch was among the structures damaged by debris from the blast.
As the United States contemplated entering World War I, German spies sabotaged a barge in New York Harbor filled with approximately 2 million pounds of arms and ammunition destined for the Allies in Europe.
The horrible explosion could be felt as far away as Philadelphia.
Remarkably, it only killed four people, but caused an estimated $500 million in damage in New Jersey and New York City.
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The Statue of Liberty's torch was among the structures damaged by debris from the blast.
For the 106 years since Black Tom's attack, access has been open only to National Park Service officials.
