Salazar Welcomes First Visitors to Tour Re-Opened Crown of Statue of Liberty

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today was joined by Governors David Paterson, Jon Corzine, Senator Robert Menendez, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Anthony Weiner to celebrate the Fourth of July by welcoming the first visitors to tour the crown of the Statue of Liberty since it was closed following the 9/11 attacks for safety and security reasons. The first thirty visitors, from all over the world, climbed the 354 steps to the crown accompanied by National Park Service rangers.

  • /news/photos/images/0706091.jpg

    “The crown of the Statue of Liberty is opened with an official ribbon cutting. Left to right are; New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, Secretary Salazar, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, New York Governor David Paterson, French Ambassador to the United States Pierre Vimont, Deputy Secretary Department of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute and Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706091.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706092.jpg

    Secretary Salazar looks down from the stairway that leads to the statue's crown. He is accompanied by National Parks of New York Harbor Commissioner Maria Burks. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706092.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706093.jpg

    Secretary Salazar arrives in the crown with the first batch of visitors. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706093.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706094.jpg

    National Parks of New York Harbor Commissioner Maria Burks describes improvements made to the statue to accommodate visitors. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706094.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706095.jpg

    In his remarks Secretary Salazar acknowledges military members who have recently received their United States of America citizenship. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706095.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706096.jpg

    Secretary Salazar seated with New York Governor David Paterson, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706096.jpg

  • /news/photos/images/0706097_1.jpg

    The Secretary was interviewed live by Kate Snow on the Good Morning America show. [Photo by Tami A. Heilemann – DOI]

    /news/photos/images/0706097_1.jpg