August 3 is an important day in the history of the Statue of Liberty: what is remarkable about this date

The Statue of Liberty, the most famous symbol of the United States, reopened after the September 11 attacks on this historic day, August 3, 2004. Writes about it Fox News.

The internationally recognized landmark was closed to the public for almost three years after the destruction of the nearby World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

That day, Lady Liberty watched this horror stoically.

"This beacon of hope and freedom is once again open to the public, sending a reassuring signal to the world that freedom is alive in New York and shining brighter than ever before," then New York Governor George Pataki said when he reopened The Statue of Liberty, along with Michael Bloomberg, then-Mayor of New York, as well as the head of the Department of the Interior, Gale Norton, other officials and members of the public.

The celebration was marked by pomp, including the military choir singing You're a Grand Old Flag and the national anthem.

But the event also came amid fears of terrorist attacks that hung over the country long after 11/XNUMX. New York City, nearby Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. faced terrorist threats in the days leading up to the opening ceremony.

“I think this shows the world that freedom cannot be intimidated,” said Craig Manson, assistant head of the Department of the Interior, ahead of the celebration. “I think it’s important that, despite the increased level of danger, we are still continuing to open.”

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was opened to the public in 1886. It was designed by the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi; he visited the United States in 1871.

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The inner metal frame of the Lady of Liberty was made by Gustave Eiffel, who immediately after began building the iconic tower in Paris that bears his name.

The Statue of Liberty has been closed for various reasons throughout its history.

It was closed for two years from 1984 to 1986 for extensive restoration work before its centenary celebration.

The building structures around the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of 1980s pop culture, appearing in everything from movies to music videos.

The National Historic Landmark closed for eight months after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 before reopening on July 4, 2013.

The Statue of Liberty again closed to the public for four months at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, before a phased reopening period began in July.

Visitors could only access the statue's famous torch for the first 30 years of its existence.

Public access to the torch was closed after the deadly "Black Tom explosion" on July 30, 1916.

As the US was about to enter World War I, German spies sabotaged a barge in New York harbor loaded with some 2 million pounds of arms and ammunition destined for the Allies in Europe. The terrifying explosion could be felt even in Philadelphia.

It is noteworthy that only four people died, but the damage in New Jersey and New York is estimated at $ 500 mky.

The torch of the Statue of Liberty was among the structures damaged by fragments of the explosion.

106 years after the explosion, it is only open to National Park Service officials.