The Lady of Liberty

View from Ellis Island

The Liberty tickets could be purchased earlier from their website Liberty statue cruises I strongly recommend doing this if you were planning for a pedestal or crown tickets. We could get a pedestal ticket alone as the crown tickets were far sold out. Also, by the end of May, the crown tickets were completely sold out for summer season! The Pedestal tickets gives us special access to certain areas around the statue and less crowded as well. The best view ofcourse, of the Liberty statue is neither from the grounds nor from the pedestal. It is from the Statue cruise from the bow of the Lady Liberty cruise (that transports from Ellis island to Liberty island)!

We paid $7 for unlimited parking at the liberty state park lot, NJ and took the statue cruise after clearing the security. You are allowed to board the cruise with your food and Backpacks. Please NOTE there are restrictions on carrying baggage up the pedestal if you have pedestal or Crown ticket.

The cruise departs from Liberty/Battery parks to EllisIsland, Ellis island to Libery island, Liberty island to Liberty/Battery state parks. If you want to visit Ellis island, get off the cruise when it stops there. You cannot visit Ellis Island after Liberty island as the cruise doesn’t stop on its way back. There is a lot to see at Ellis island museum. Being the port of entry, it has witnessed the bustling on the arrival of immigrants, their baggage and customs. The balcony on the third floor gives a great view of the entire registry room (on 2nd floor). It also has access to the dormitory room where sick immigrants are retained for a while before let into USA. The museum on the first floor describes the history and importance of Ellis Island. The Family history search stations located at the back of the information Center lets you search for your ancestors and provides a location result. Note it down on a piece of paper and head out of the building to its backyard (towards the Manhattan skyline). The back yard has metal sheet structures lined with immigrant names inscribed on those.I haven’t looked up this part personally but learnt about the process from the lady attendant there and had a distant glimpse of the metal sheets shining in the sun while having our snack at the benches located diagonally from that area. There are cruises heading from Ellis island to Liberty island every 35 minutes I guess.

Backpacks, strollers and food are not allowed inside the statue. You have to leave the stroller at the entrance of the security station for pedestal/Crown access. Also available there are small Lockers that will fit one backpack each and charges $2 for 2 hours minimum with finger print access. Have dollar notes ready as it accepts cash alone. Camera, cell phones, small handbags, cap and coat are allowed to carry with you. The Pedestal tickets are worth that extra few bucks. It gives access to the first made hand torch (later replaced 2 more times due to wear and repairs), access to museum that showcases exact replicas of the Lady liberty’s face and feet, mold of her ear, and the construction process.It is surprising to know that the lady arrived in crates and has been assembled here over a period of an year.The special tickets gives access to grounds restricted to general tickets. Past the museum and restrooms, head to the staircase of ~ 300 steps for access to pedestal and Crown. Elevator is available till the pedestal.However, the crown's ticket holders will have to continue further up the narrower , winding staircase from the pedestal to reach the crown. The view of Manhattan skyline, river, and NJ from the pedestal balcony are spectacular. Have a jacket handy and hold on to your hat from getting blown away by the high winds there.

TIP - If you would want to head to Battery park at the end instead of Liberty park to view 911 memorial and return back to Liberty state park again, you could change your ticket at the WillCall center (if you pre-booked your tickets) or ride to Battery park instead of Liberty state park, visit 911 memorial (free but purchase ticket at the center there for the museum) and take a water taxi back for $7 to liberty state park.This is a great idea as you can visit Manhattan too for one parking pay for the whole day starting from NJ state park!Visit libertylandingferry.com for schedules and information.