Editing Statue of Liberty (section)

==Access and attributes==
===Location and access===
[[File:CIRCLE LINE FERRY CARRIES TOURISTS TO STATUE OF LIBERTY IN UPPER NEW YORK BAY - NARA - 547838.jpg|left|thumb|Tourists aboard a [[Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises|Circle Line]] ferry arriving at [[Liberty Island]], June 1973]]
The statue is situated in [[Upper New York Bay]] on [[Liberty Island]] south of [[Ellis Island]], which together comprise the [[Statue of Liberty National Monument]]. Both islands were ceded by New York to the federal government in 1800.<ref name=Bedloe/> As agreed in an 1834 [[interstate compact|compact]] between New York and New Jersey that set the state border at the bay's midpoint, the original islands remain New York territory though located on the New Jersey side of the state line. Liberty Island is [[List of smaller islands in New York City#Manhattan|one of the islands that are part]] of the [[Borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Manhattan]] in New York. Land created by [[Land reclamation|reclamation]] added to the {{convert|2.3|acre|ha|adj=on}} original island at Ellis Island is New Jersey territory.<ref name=NJvsNY1998/>

No charge is made for entrance to the national monument, but there is a cost for the ferry service that all visitors must use,<ref name=Fees>{{Cite web |title= Fees & Passes |date= May 20, 2019 |website= Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) |url= https://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/fees.htm |access-date= June 16, 2019 |archive-date= October 4, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191004115929/https://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/fees.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> as private boats may not dock at the island. A concession was granted in 2007 to [[Statue Cruises]] to operate the transportation and ticketing facilities, replacing [[Circle Line Downtown|Circle Line]], which had operated the service since 1953.<ref name=Ramirez/> The ferries, which depart from [[Liberty State Park]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[The Battery (Manhattan)|the Battery]] in [[Lower Manhattan]], also stop at Ellis Island when it is open to the public, making a combined trip possible.<ref name=ferry/> All ferry riders are subject to security screening, similar to airport procedures, prior to boarding.<ref name=SandS/>

Visitors intending to enter the statue's base and pedestal must obtain pedestal access for a nominal fee when purchasing their ferry ticket.<ref name=Fees/><ref name=faq3/> Those wishing to climb the staircase within the statue to the crown must purchase a special ticket departing from either Battery Park or Liberty State Park, which may be reserved up to five months in advance for groups of up to four people. About 425 people per day may purchase tickets for the combined ferry, pedestal, and crown. 
<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Crown Reserve Tickets |url=https://www.cityexperiences.com/new-york/city-cruises/statue/new-york-crown-reserve/ |website=Statue City Cruises |publisher=[[Statue City Cruises]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
Climbers may bring only medication, plastic water bottles, phones, and cameras—lockers are provided for other items—and must undergo a second security screening.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visiting the Crown |url=https://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/visit-the-crown.htm |website=Statue of Liberty National Monument |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> The balcony around the torch was closed to the public following the [[Black Tom explosion|munitions explosion]] on Black Tom Island in 1916.{{sfn |Moreno | 2000 |p=71}} The balcony can however be seen live via [[webcam]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live from the Golden Torch |url=https://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/statueofliberty/ |website=EarthCam |publisher=[[EarthCam]] |access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref>

===Inscriptions, plaques, and dedications===
[[File:Liberty Island photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|The Statue of Liberty stands on [[Liberty Island]].]]
There are several plaques and dedicatory tablets on or near the Statue of Liberty.
* A plaque on the copper just under the figure in front declares that it is a colossal statue representing Liberty, designed by Bartholdi and built by the Paris firm of Gaget, Gauthier et Cie (''Cie'' is the French abbreviation analogous to ''Co.'').{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}
* A presentation tablet, also bearing Bartholdi's name, declares the statue is a gift from the people of the Republic of France that honors "the Alliance of the two Nations in achieving the Independence of the United States of America and attests their abiding friendship."{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}
* A tablet placed by the American Committee commemorates the fundraising done to build the pedestal.{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}
* The cornerstone bears a plaque placed by the [[Freemason]]s.{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}
* In 1903, a bronze tablet that bears the text of [[Emma Lazarus]]'s sonnet, "[[The New Colossus]]" (1883), was presented by friends of the poet. Until the 1986 renovation, it was mounted inside the pedestal; later, it resided in the Statue of Liberty Museum, in the base.{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}
* "The New Colossus" tablet is accompanied by a tablet given by the Emma Lazarus Commemorative Committee in 1977, celebrating the poet's life.{{sfn|Moreno|2000|pp=222–223}}

A group of statues stands at the western end of the island, honoring those closely associated with the Statue of Liberty. Two Americans—Pulitzer and Lazarus—and three Frenchmen—Bartholdi, Eiffel, and Laboulaye—are depicted. They are the work of Maryland sculptor Phillip Ratner.{{sfn|Harris|1985|p=163}}