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People are just finding out what top of Statue Of Liberty looks like as view's been closed for over 100 years
Featured Image Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images / Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

People are just finding out what top of Statue Of Liberty looks like as view's been closed for over 100 years

The torch used to be accessible to the public 100 years ago, but various events led to it not being deemed safe.

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

The Statue of Liberty's torch is being seen by some for the first time after it was closed off 100 years ago.

It's like how it feels to be a small person - you'll never see the top of most people's heads because you're not tall enough to be able to look down and see.

And with the Statue of Liberty, members of the public aren't currently able to see what she looks like from above because they're not allowed to make the journey up to stand on her torch, but why?

Members of the public haven't been allowed up to the torch for 100 years.
Getty Images/ Beata Zawrzel/ NurPhoto

Why is there no access to the Statue of Liberty's torch?

Well, National Park Service's website explains the torch is actually accessible via a ladder from the Statue's arm.

When first built, the arm and shoulder 'were not aligned correctly' so when the statue underwent restoration in 1984, repairs were made - 'the original gilded torch design recreated as part of the 1986 Centennial' too.

Despite this, the arm remained a very narrow space and the ladder subsequently difficult to climb.

Add in the effects of the 'Black Tom' explosion on 30 July 1916 and the arm was considered too risky for members of the public to climb.

The 'Black Tom' explosion saw German spies set off multiple fires and explosions in New York Harbor in a bid to destroy ammunition about to be sent to allies in World War 1.

The National Fire Protection Association reports shrapnel from the explosions 'even struck the Statue of Liberty’s skirt and damaged the arm holding the torch, to an extent that it has never been reopened to the public'.

"In all, the explosions did $20 million in damage," it adds.

The Statue of Liberty's torch can be seen via three cameras located on it.
National Park Service/ EarthCam

As a result, access to the torch was subsequently cut off in 1916.

How can you see the top of the Statue of Liberty now?

While the only people who're currently allowed up to the torch are members of the National Park Service - or 'Keepers of the Flame' as they're known - we now have cameras and technology to be able to get a better view of the top of the Statue of Liberty.

Not only have people shared images, but there's also an EarthCam page for the torch where you can see the view live every day.

X page Fascinating shared an image from the perspective of the torch yesterday (28 February).

The image of the Statue of Liberty circulating on X.
Getty Images/ Fox Photos

One user responded: "Wow...First time I'm seeing from this view."

"Fascinating history for real," another added.

And a third commented: "Wow."

Topics: New York, Social Media, Twitter, US News, Travel, World News

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.