After a year of renovations, the interior of the Statue of Liberty has reopened.
Statue of Liberty —
After a year of renovations, the interior of the Statue of Liberty has reopened.
Javier Morgado/CNN
The renovations were undertaken to make the monument easier to navigate and more accessible to visitors with disabilities. The modifications should allow an additional 26,000 people to visit the statue's interior each year, officials say.
Statue of Liberty —
The renovations were undertaken to make the monument easier to navigate and more accessible to visitors with disabilities. The modifications should allow an additional 26,000 people to visit the statue's interior each year, officials say.
Javier Morgado/CNN
The renovations involved the construction of new staircases.
Statue of Liberty renovations —
The renovations involved the construction of new staircases.
Courtesy Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corporation
In 2012, a small group of wounded veterans got a sneak peek at the renovated monument.
Statue of Liberty —
In 2012, a small group of wounded veterans got a sneak peek at the renovated monument.
Javier Morgado/CNN
Larry Hughes, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967-1969 and was wounded in Vietnam, was the first wheelchair user to ride a newly installed elevator to a lower observation deck.
Statue of Liberty —
Larry Hughes, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967-1969 and was wounded in Vietnam, was the first wheelchair user to ride a newly installed elevator to a lower observation deck.
Javier Morgado/CNN
The construction crew working on the statue stopped to salute Hughes, center, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Kirk Bauer, right, and retired U.S. Army Capt. Jesse Acosta, left.
Statue of Liberty —
The construction crew working on the statue stopped to salute Hughes, center, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Kirk Bauer, right, and retired U.S. Army Capt. Jesse Acosta, left.
Javier Morgado/CNN
The final cost of renovations was about $30 million, according to officials.
Statue of Liberty —
The final cost of renovations was about $30 million, according to officials.
Javier Morgado/CNN