New York's Lady Liberty closes her doors for a whole year

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

Off limits: The Statue Of Liberty will reopen in a year after renovation, say officials

Off limits: The Statue Of Liberty will reopen in a year after renovation, say officials

The Statue of Liberty will close for a year at the end of October as it undergoes a £16.8m renovation that will make the interior safer and more accessible.

The renovations are limited to the monument, and Liberty Island will remain open.

Officials have also assured that the statue itself will be mostly unobstructed, meaning it can still be seen by visitors.

The US National Parks Service, which manages the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, will close the monument on October 28, after the 125th anniversary of its dedication.

Electrical and fire suppression systems are to be upgraded, improved stairways and elevators will be installed and toilets will also be revamped within the structure.

The National Parks Service announced last year that it would close Lady Liberty's crown to upgrade the stairwells and improve safety. 

It says new fire safety instructions require that the statue must be able to be evacuated within two hours, which is not possible with the current staircases on either side of the pedestal.

The statue was closed after the September 11 terror attacks for security reasons but the base reopened in 2004 after a £12.3m security upgrade.

The observation deck at the top of the crown was reopened on July 4, 2009.

Around 3.5 million people visit the monument every year, or 240 per day. The statue was built in the 1880s, and was a gift from France.

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