Liberty's Crown May Reopen by July 4th

(NEWSER) - The crown of the Statue of Liberty will be open for business again July 4, the first time since 9/11. NPR collected a few facts about Lady Liberty you might not know:

• The 7 spikes: Liberty's crown does not symbolize the 7 continents or seas, as even the National Parks Service reports. They're sun rays, and the circle is a "nimbus."
• She's so heavy: The statute is made of 31 tons of copper, 125 tons of steel, and the base consists of a whopping 27,000 tons of concrete.

Liberty Island staying open during renovation

(NEWSER) - If you want to get inside America's most famous statue, you'll have to do it before Oct. 28—or wait at least a year. The Statue of Liberty will close for a year after the 125th anniversary of its dedication, for a major renovation to improve safety and make the interior more accessible, AP reports. Liberty Island will remain open during the renovation and views of the statue will be largely unobstructed. More»

(NEWSER) - The Statue of Liberty's crown reopened to the public today for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, reports the Daily News. The first people allowed up were seven US servicemen who took the oath to become citizens. Those interested in ascending the narrow staircase to the top better be patient: Tickets are booked through August, notes the AP. More»

(NEWSER) - Visitors will soon be able to roam the Statue of Liberty’s crown for the first time since 9/11, the New York Post reports. The landmark’s loftiest perch will reopen—when else?—July 4. Ken Salazar announced the move on the Today Show this morning from inside the crown. At first, only 30 people will be allowed in the crown at a time, but after further "rehab" that number will increase. More»

Cars, bikes, public transit can coexist: Justin Davidson

(NEWSER) - Driving has become a sin, "demoted to a form of depravity": Holier-than-thou car-haters remind motorists that they're destroying lives, wrecking the planet, and boosting our dependence on foreign oil. But there's a time and a place for driving, even in New York City, writes Justin Davidson in New York . "Cars are too useful, too profitable, and too enjoyable to vanish." More»