Millions of American immigrants first glimpsed their new land when they laid eyes on the Statue of Liberty, a national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site that still awes all those who encounter it. Liberty Enlightening the World, as the statue is officially named, was sculpted by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and presented to the United States in 1886 as a gift from France. Since then she has become a near-universal symbol of freedom and democracy, standing a proud 152-feet high, on top of an 89-foot pedestal (executed by Richard Morris Hunt), on Liberty Island. Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus" ("Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…") is inscribed on a bronze plaque at the statue's base. Gustav Eiffel designed the statue's iron skeleton.

The museum and pedestal are open to the public after extensive renovation, but the statue's crown and torch are not accessible. A tour of the Promenade offers visitors panoramic views of the statue and New York Harbor. An Observatory Tour includes both the Promenade tour plus a visit to the pedestal observation platform, where visitors can view Lady Liberty's interior framework through a new glass ceiling portal.

Exhibits inside the museum illustrate the statue's history, including videos of the view from the crown. In summer, be prepared for very warm weather, both outside waiting in line and inside the statue. There are also life-size models of Lady Liberty's face and foot for the visually impaired to touch as well as a pleasant outdoor café. A timed-pass ticket is required to enter the monument. Passes can be reserved for a handling fee of $1.75 per ticket by calling 1-866-782-8834. Visitors who don't make reservations can still visit Liberty Island, and take park ranger-guided tours, but they will not be allowed inside the monument. COST: Free; ferry $10 round-trip, $8 for seniors, $4 for children 3-12.