2 July 2004. One of the Eyeball series.

The Statue of Liberty has been closed since 9/11, initially for security reasons, then due to bureaucratic sloth of the National Park Service and a related refusal to spend millions of dollars in public donations and government funds being sat on by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, a private group long involved in corrupt New York and New Jersey politics.

New York Times, April 7, 2004:

Federal investigators have begun an inquiry into the National Park Service's dealings with a nonprofit foundation it relied on to handle the reopening of the Statue of Liberty. The inspector general of the Interior Department, which oversees the Park Service, is investigating.

New York Times, July 1, 2004:

Statue of Liberty Pedestal to Reopen Aug. 3

Visitors will be able to again enter the Statue of Liberty on Aug. 3, after being closed for nearly three years of safety and security improvements, the National Parks Service said yesterday. Although visitors will not be able to climb to the crown on the statue's head, they will have access to the observation deck at the top of the statue's pedestal, 154 feet above the ground. A glass ceiling at the top of the pedestal will allow visitors to see inside the statue, the service said in a statement. The staircase to the crown will remain closed, because it doesn't meet current safety and security standards. To eliminate long lines, the service said it will begin to take reservations for tours on July 22. The telephone number will soon be posted on its Web site, www.nps.gov/stli, the service said. Reservations by Internet will be available by September. Liberty Island was closed to visitors after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks; although the island reopened in December 2001, the public has not been allowed into the statue while security upgrades were undertaken.

Statue of Liberty web site: http://www.nps.gov/stli/

STATUE OF LIBERTY OPENING SET FOR AUGUST 3

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WILL BE OPENED ON AUGUST 3, 2004. PARK VISITORS WILL BE OFFERED A SPECIAL INSIDERS' VIEW OF THE ENGINEERING MARVELS THAT IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

To better understand this monumental work of art, visitors will be able to view inside the Statue through a glass ceiling, guided by a park ranger and an enhanced lighting and new video system. In addition, visitors will once again be able to walk out onto the Statue’s observation deck to see the panoramic views of New York City and the Harbor, and witness the Statue up close from her promenades on Ft. Wood.

Located on 12-acre Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.

Liberty Island is federal property located within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York.

The US has funded a 3D-documentation of the statue for its reconstruction in the event it is destroyed in a terrorist attack -- or, more likely, by neglect of its ostensible protectors:

http://www.arch.ttu.edu/digital_liberty/Phase2/Phase_2_Scope_of_Work.htm

The selections below are from the full collection of several hundred images and documents on the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in the 1980s. Links below photographs for enlarged images go to the Library of Congress. Source of photos:

Library of Congress, Archives of Historic American Buildings (HABS)/Historic American Engineering Record (HAER):

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhphoto&action=browse&fileName=ny/ny1200/ny1251/photos/browse.db&recNum=0&itemLink=D?hh:11:./temp/~ammem_lLDx::&title2=Statue+of+Liberty,+Liberty+Island,+Manhattan,+New+York+City,+New+York+County,+NY&displayType=1


Eyeballing
the
Statue of Liberty

232. GENERAL VIEW OF STATUE LOOKING NORTHWEST
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-232 [Before restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 167K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52333K bytes)

 231. OVERALL VIEW OF LIBERTY ISLAND LOOKING NORTHWEST WITH JERSEY CITY IN BACKGROUND
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-231 [Before restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 168K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52568K bytes)

Monochrome:

Larger reference image (JPEG - 106K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19504K bytes)

242. VIEW OF FLAME AND TORCH PLATFORM LOOKING EAST WITH NEW YORK HARBOR, ELLIS ISLAND AND LOWER MANHATTAN IN BACKGROUND
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-242 [Before restoration]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 158K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52101K bytes)

 278. DETAIL OF FLAME WITH MANHATTAN SKYLINE IN BACKGROUND
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-278 [After "restoration"]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 131K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 51831K bytes)
239. CLOSE-IN VIEW OF LEFT SIDE OF HEAD SHOWING DETAIL OF CROWN
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-239

Larger reference image (JPEG - 223K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52175K bytes)

 236. CLOSE-IN VIEW OF RIGHT SIDE OF FACE AND CROWN LOOKING NORTHEAST
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-236

Larger reference image (JPEG - 187K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52690K bytes)
178. Detail of face showing nose and eye repair, November 18, 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-178

Larger reference image (JPEG - 90K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17653K bytes)

23. View looking down on top of head showing body enclosed in scaffolding. May 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-23

Larger reference image (JPEG - 237K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17341K bytes)

174. Detail behind left ear showing damage to ringlet of hair, March, 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-174

Larger reference image (JPEG - 125K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17414K bytes)

 118. View inside crown platform looking southeast showing windows in crown, structural frame and lighting fixtures. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-118


Larger reference image (JPEG - 161K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19338K bytes)
255. BROKEN SHACKLES, AXE HEAD AND RIGHT FOOT AT BASE
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-255

Larger reference image (JPEG - 212K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52598K bytes)

 256. CLOSE-UP DETAIL OF RIGHT FOOT SHOWING MISSING RIVETS
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-256

Larger reference image (JPEG - 171K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52294K bytes)
258. CLOSE-UP DETAIL OF LEFT FOOT
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-258


Larger reference image (JPEG - 173K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52914K bytes)

 248. VIEW LOOKING UP FOREARM SHOWING HAND GRIPPING TORCH
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-248


Larger reference image (JPEG - 208K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 52578K bytes)
9. General view of statue looking South with Verrazano Narrows Bridge in background.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-9

Larger reference image (JPEG - 141K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19734K bytes)

7. General view of statue looking Northeast with World Trade Center in background.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-7


Larger reference image (JPEG - 175K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 20048K bytes)

15. Rear view looking south showing statue, pedestal and Fort Wood. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-15

Larger reference image (JPEG - 91K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19538K bytes)

21. Rear view looking south showing statue, pedestal and Fort Wood. May 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-21

Larger reference image (JPEG - 153K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17438K bytes)

18. Telephoto view of south elevation of pedestal. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-18

Larger reference image (JPEG - 152K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19499K bytes)

16. Right-side view looking east showing statue from base up. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-16

Larger reference image (JPEG - 99K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19460K bytes)
36. View of flame, torch platform and fingers on hand looking northeast. May 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-36


Larger reference image (JPEG - 188K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17600K bytes)

44. Detail view of hand, thumb, torch handle and underside of torch platform. May 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-44


Larger reference image (JPEG - 114K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17072K bytes)
67. Level 4 (Colonnade Level) looking west showing stairs and bottom of anchorage beams. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-67

Larger reference image (JPEG - 106K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19514K bytes)

 72. Detail of eyebar linkage between main anchorage beams at base of statue and anchorage beam between levels 4 and 5. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-72

Larger reference image (JPEG - 111K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19372K bytes)

86. Mezzanine level looking northeast showing connection between northwest leg of central pylon and main anchorage beam; up-flight of helical stair at right. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-86

Larger reference image (JPEG - 150K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19426K bytes)

 97. Double helical stair at base of statue. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-97

Larger reference image (JPEG - 193K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19421K bytes)

106. Interior view at level 7 showing structural frame supporting left arm and tablet. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-106

Larger reference image (JPEG - 124K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19431K bytes)

110. View looking down from torch arm at cylindrical ventilating fan. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-110

Larger reference image (JPEG - 116K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19494K bytes)
111. View looking up torch arm showing access ladder and structural frame. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-111

Larger reference image (JPEG - 194K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19392K bytes)

 114. View from crown platform looking down into helical stairwell. February 1984.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-114

Larger reference image (JPEG - 117K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 19426K bytes)

150. Base of helical staircase and statue detail, showing leg of main pylon and cross beams at right, December 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-150

Larger reference image (JPEG - 146K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17512K bytes)

145. Main entrance into pedestal and museum, November 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-145

Larger reference image (JPEG - 153K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17473K bytes)
148. Detail of concrete stepped foundation, October 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-148

Larger reference image (JPEG - 111K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17541K bytes)

149. Detail of leg of main pylon sitting on cross beams at base of statue showing anchorage bolt, December 1985
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-149

Larger reference image (JPEG - 93K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17663K bytes)

205. VIEW FROM THE TORCH OF THE CROWN AND LANDSCAPING.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-205 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 120K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17414K bytes)

206. WEST END OF LIBERTY ISLAND FROM THE TORCH SHOWING LINES TO GO UP INTO THE TORCH.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-206 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 182K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17463K bytes)

208. VIEW OF THE STAIRS FROM THE CROWN.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-208 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 136K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17458K bytes)

212. VIEW UP STAIR CASE OF THE INTERIOR OF MAIN FRAME.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-212 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 133K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17399K bytes)

215. ELEVATOR AT THE TOP OF THE PEDESTAL, BOTTOM OF STATUE.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-215 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 92K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17546K bytes)

218. OIL TANK FOR POWERING HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR.
HAER, NY,31-NEYO,89-218 [After restoration.]

Larger reference image (JPEG - 93K bytes)
Highest resolution image (TIFF - 17419K bytes)