This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8129338.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty crown reopens | Statue of Liberty crown reopens |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| By Matthew Price BBC News, New York | By Matthew Price BBC News, New York |
| The view from the Statue of Liberty's crown | The view from the Statue of Liberty's crown |
| It was Monday 10 September 2001 when a tourist last pressed a camera up against a tiny window in the Statue of Liberty's crown and took a snap looking back towards Manhattan. | It was Monday 10 September 2001 when a tourist last pressed a camera up against a tiny window in the Statue of Liberty's crown and took a snap looking back towards Manhattan. |
| The view then was dominated by the twin towers of the World Trade Center. | The view then was dominated by the twin towers of the World Trade Center. |
| The next morning, before Liberty Island had opened to tourists for the day, planes flew into the towers, and they disappeared. | The next morning, before Liberty Island had opened to tourists for the day, planes flew into the towers, and they disappeared. |
| Ever since, the Statue of Liberty's crown has been closed to the public. | Ever since, the Statue of Liberty's crown has been closed to the public. |
| "What's the point of going two thirds of the way up?" asked Mike, an Australian tourist. | "What's the point of going two thirds of the way up?" asked Mike, an Australian tourist. |
| He was on the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. It is the closest visitors have been able to get to the crown for some years now. | He was on the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. It is the closest visitors have been able to get to the crown for some years now. |
| Magnificent monument but to be honest not the most stunning view | Magnificent monument but to be honest not the most stunning view |
| "It's just nice to be able to reach the peak." | "It's just nice to be able to reach the peak." |
| "Peak" might sound like the wrong word - but the climb up makes it feel something like that. | "Peak" might sound like the wrong word - but the climb up makes it feel something like that. |
| There are 354 steps to the crown, the last 150 or so up a tight and claustrophobic spiral staircase which winds up inside what you might call Liberty's skeleton. | There are 354 steps to the crown, the last 150 or so up a tight and claustrophobic spiral staircase which winds up inside what you might call Liberty's skeleton. |
| Before the 11 September attacks, and before security became such a consistent concern for those managing America's tourist sites, visitors would queue up the stairs, shuffling up one at a time, kids complaining, sometimes for an hour or more. | Before the 11 September attacks, and before security became such a consistent concern for those managing America's tourist sites, visitors would queue up the stairs, shuffling up one at a time, kids complaining, sometimes for an hour or more. |
| That can be very hot. It is consistently warmer inside the metal shell of Liberty than it is outside. | That can be very hot. It is consistently warmer inside the metal shell of Liberty than it is outside. |
| Rethinking security | Rethinking security |
| Last year, three million tourists visited Liberty Island on which the statue stands. | Last year, three million tourists visited Liberty Island on which the statue stands. |
| Liberty's re-opening is yet another sign of how the new president is determined to rethink the focus on national security which dominated his predecessor's time in office | Liberty's re-opening is yet another sign of how the new president is determined to rethink the focus on national security which dominated his predecessor's time in office |
| Once it reopens, just 240 tourists will be allowed up each day - in groups of no more than 10 at a time - and they will all have to book well in advance. | Once it reopens, just 240 tourists will be allowed up each day - in groups of no more than 10 at a time - and they will all have to book well in advance. |
| The view is not the most stunning in New York. The statue is orientated so that it is looking east, towards France - the country which built and gave the statue to the US in celebration of that country's 100th year of independence. | The view is not the most stunning in New York. The statue is orientated so that it is looking east, towards France - the country which built and gave the statue to the US in celebration of that country's 100th year of independence. |
| So the tiny windows of Liberty's crown look east too, across the flat expanse of New York harbour, past the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and out towards the Atlantic. | So the tiny windows of Liberty's crown look east too, across the flat expanse of New York harbour, past the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and out towards the Atlantic. |
| To see that now-changed view of Manhattan, you have to crane your neck round to the left, and peek out back towards the island. | To see that now-changed view of Manhattan, you have to crane your neck round to the left, and peek out back towards the island. |
| Do not be put off though - this is one of the most recognised tourist sites in the world. | Do not be put off though - this is one of the most recognised tourist sites in the world. |
| As you approach Liberty Island it is impossible not to be drawn in by the statue's impassive gaze. | As you approach Liberty Island it is impossible not to be drawn in by the statue's impassive gaze. |
| It is a magnificent monument, an icon standing on the edge of one of the world's greatest cities. | It is a magnificent monument, an icon standing on the edge of one of the world's greatest cities. |
| Being in the crown feels a little like peering from the top of the Eiffel Tower, or looking down the Thames from Tower Bridge - you feel as if you are somewhere special. | Being in the crown feels a little like peering from the top of the Eiffel Tower, or looking down the Thames from Tower Bridge - you feel as if you are somewhere special. |
| Looking out, you can catch a glimpse of the oxidised green copper of the statue's arm, though it is hard to see the famous torch from inside. You can also see the points of her crown- looming out from the head in which you're standing. | Looking out, you can catch a glimpse of the oxidised green copper of the statue's arm, though it is hard to see the famous torch from inside. You can also see the points of her crown- looming out from the head in which you're standing. |
| So it will be a thrill for those tourists who make it up the staircase. | So it will be a thrill for those tourists who make it up the staircase. |
| The statue faces towards France, which donated it to the US | The statue faces towards France, which donated it to the US |
| The re-opening of the crown also has a wider significance. | The re-opening of the crown also has a wider significance. |
| It is yet another sign of how the new President, Barack Obama, is determined to rethink the focus on national security which dominated his predecessor's time in office. | It is yet another sign of how the new President, Barack Obama, is determined to rethink the focus on national security which dominated his predecessor's time in office. |
| As one American tourist visiting the statue said, it is a sign to her at least that "America is becoming a better place again." | As one American tourist visiting the statue said, it is a sign to her at least that "America is becoming a better place again." |
| A young girl by her side added: "9/11 doesn't mean you should close something down forever, because people love the Statue of Liberty. It's part of our nation. It's kinda good they're reopening it." | A young girl by her side added: "9/11 doesn't mean you should close something down forever, because people love the Statue of Liberty. It's part of our nation. It's kinda good they're reopening it." |