- Good morning. It is my pleasure
to welcome you to the Statue of Liberty.
- I appreciate the people
who have joined us today:
o New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
o National Park Service Director Fran Mainella
o Head of the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation Steve Briganti
- We are here to announce
a visitor use and protection plan that would increase access to the
Statue of Liberty for the visiting public later this summer.
- Under our new plan, visitors
will be able to tour the Statue of Liberty museum and see close-up views
of the statue from the promenade They will be able to enjoy the 360-degree
panoramic view of New York Harbor from the observation deck at the top
of the pedestal.
- Inside the base of the Statue,
visitors will have a newly created opportunity to see up into the intricate
inner structure of the statue through a clear polycarbonate ceiling.
[Hold up section of glass.] This section is inches thick. Yes, Lady
Liberty has conquered the glass ceiling.
- This gentle statue has always
been a beacon to our shores-a welcome understood by millions who came
to this country to experience the lighter air of freedom and the guarantees
of democracy.
- Unfortunately, she is also
a symbol to the darker forces of terrorism. After September 11th, the
Statue was listed by name as a terrorist target.
- We are proceeding cautiously-with
the safety of citizens and preservation of the statue as our main goals.
- Ft. Wood is the base for
the Statue. It was built during the war of 1812 in the shape of an 11-pointed
star, but it was designed with one entrance and exit. The Statue had
enjoyed about 13,000 visitors per day prior to September 11th. Imagine
in the case of even a minor fire trying to claw your way to one exit
in the midst of panic, chaos and the press of people.
- Before we reopen, the Park
Service is in the process of completing new exits and upgrading emergency
exits.
- They have overhauled the
fire system, enclosed existing stairways to provide safe passage to
exits, and installed emergency lighting, exit signs and emergency push
bars.
- We are confident-with the
new measures-that we can provide safety to the observation deck.
- At this time, there will
be no visitor access to the interior of the statue for many reasons.
- Lady Liberty was designed
as a colossus, but she is thin-skinned. [Hold up two pennies separately
and then put them together.] The copper of the outer shell of the statue
is the thickness of these two pennies. [three 32nds of an inch]
- Her arm and the skirt of
her robe were damaged from the impact and shrapnel of an explosion all
the way over in the New Jersey waterfront in 1916.
- The wear and tear of the
elements took their toll as well and the Lady had an extreme makeover
back in 1984. Work was done on her right eye, her lips, chin and nostril.
Her torch was completely replaced.
- Sculptor Frederic-Auguste
Bartholdi never intended visits to the inside of Liberty. The stairs
were designed for access by a light-keeper, so they are narrow and winding.
There is little room to evacuate an injured person.
- The heat within the statue
can be more than 20 degrees higher than the outside temperature. If
it is 80 degrees outside, it can be 100 degrees within.
- We have discussed some weaknesses,
but they do not detract from the great strengths that are part of Lady
Liberty.
- She is a symbol to the world
that we are a free nation.
- She has stood for 128 years
as the candle in the front window of the country-welcoming immigrants,
visitors and returning Americans.
- It is our responsibility
to ensure that the Statue remains intact so that future generations
are welcomed and inspired by her message of freedom.
- I intend to continue doing
all I can to make sure that appropriate protective measures are in place
at the Statue so that she can welcome visitors later this summer.
- Thank you. [Introduce
Mayor Bloomberg.]
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