The Statue Of Liberty Reopens Its Crown

By Gilbert Mercier, NEWS  JUNKIE POST

Today marks the reopening of the Statue of Liberty’s crown for visitors.

It could not be more appropriate to reopen the monument today, as America celebrates its birthday. It will take visitors to climb 156 steps to get to the crown and enjoy the amazing view. The crown was closed to visitors right after 9/11/2001 for security reasons.

The people of France gave the statue to the people of the United States 120 years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution.

Sculptor Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture with the year 1876 targeted for completion, to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address the major structural issues associated with designing such a colossal copper sculpture. Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) designed the massive iron pylon and skeletal frame work holding the copper skin.