Statue of Liberty renovations aim to lure visitors

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Statue of Liberty was closed for 100 days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Since December 2001, visitors have been permitted on Liberty Island, but not inside the statue.
That will soon change. A multimillion-dollar renovation of the famous icon of freedom is scheduled to be completed late this summer, allowing visitors to enter the base of the statue, where a museum about the statue's history and construction is located.
Guests will also have access to an observation deck on top of the statue's 16-story pedestal.
Glass ceiling
Those who make the short boat trip from Manhattan to Liberty Island will also be able to peer into the statue's intricate inner structure through a glass ceiling near its base.
The renovations range from safety and security measures, such as improved exits and visitor screenings, to a new reservation ticketing system designed to eliminate long lines. Once the system is running, reservations will be handled by the Circle Line-Statue of Liberty ferry company that transports visitors from Manhattan to the statue.
Before the terrorist attacks, the statue hosted 4 million visitors a year. Attendance has dropped 45 percent since the island was reopened.
Officials hope the renewed access to the statue's interior will lure some of the lost tourists back.