It's hard to imagine a more evocative and familiar symbol of the United States than the lady with the torch, who has been welcoming travelers from across the ocean for more than 120 years. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's copper statue, which is wrapped around a framework designed by Gustav Eiffel, opened to the public in 1886. The statue's interior was temporarily closed following the September 11 attacks, but it reopened in 2004 with a new addition, a glass ceiling that allows visitors to look into the intricate inner structure of the statue. Visitors can also get a spellbinding view of the city from the observation deck in the crown.
The cruise through the heart of New York Harbor to the monument is a must for every American and a symbol of freedom recognized throughout the world. The Statue Cruises can be boarded at Battery Park in New York City's Manhattan waterfront or from Liberty City, New Jersey.