As part of a tightly-scheduled itinerary for New York, we were almost weary and tired on the last day of our trip to New York. But, no visit to New York is ever complete, without catching a glimpse of the Lady – the Statue of Liberty! So, we got ready early in the morning, quickly hopped into the Subway and reached Bowling Green Subway station – one of the closest stations to the Ferry terminal.
It was a sunny Tuesday morning and and I had never imagined that there would be so many visitors to this place on a tourist off-season and working day. This clearly explains the world-class charm that this monument still maintains! All thanks to the food trucks lined right outside the Ferry terminal, I had a delicious plate of Chicken Gyro over Rice. And then, we walked over to the Ferry Terminal to book our tickets. The waiting time in the long queues and the scorching sun was worth the wait, when we were finally ready to cruise to the Liberty Island.
About Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, USA. The copper statue is a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, as a token of independence. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
It depicts a figure of a robed woman representing Libertas, a Roman liberty goddess. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed in Roman numerals with “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. A broken chain lies at her feet. This statue became an icon of freedom and was a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad.
Major Highlights
The Statue of Liberty is marked as –
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- U.S. National Monument
- U.S. National Register of Historic Places
- New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- New York City Landmark
Handy Facts to Know Before You Visit Statue of Liberty
- Visiting Hours – 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Ferry Charges to reach the island – $18.50 per adult
- Sailing time – 15 mins to each island, with a total travel time of 1.5 hours approx (if you opt for ride only, then don’t get down the boat in the islands).
- Be prepared for the following waiting times – 45 mins to 1 hour minimum (ticketing queue), 1 to 1.5 hours minimum (ferry boarding queue).
- Avoid trips on a cloudy day, else you won’t get to witness the beautiful skyline view of Manhattan from the island.
- Sunny days can be really hot and tiring, considering the super-long queues. So, DON’T forget your umbrellas and sunscreens.
- Security checks are really strict, almost on the lines of international airports. So, try to carry minimal baggage to the island.
Before I wrap up, I want to highlight an unbiased take on my visit to the State of Liberty. On a personal note, I feel that the Liberty Island is a little touristy and over-crowded. But as it is rightly said, a visit to New York is incomplete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. It might seem funny, but I love the view of the NYC Skyline the most from the Liberty Island. So, keep these handy facts in mind and plan a visit to the Liberty island. It is definitely worth a first-time visit!
You can even read a full travel itinerary on New York here – A Perfect 5-Day Travel Itinerary for New York.
Much Love,
Wander Bird