Visiting the Pedestal

The granite pedestal that the Statue was built on top of stands 154 feet tall
Statue of Liberty atop the granite pedestal.

NPS Photo

 
A diagram of the Statue of Liberty's pedestal
Diagram of the Statue of Liberty.

NPS Photo




Plan Your Visit to the Pedestal

  • Tickets to the pedestal are limited and can sell out in advance.
  • There is an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs.
  • There are 215 steps or approximately 10 stories to climb to the top of the pedestal.
 

Purchase Pedestal Tickets in Advance

  • Access to the pedestal is limited and requires tickets. Statue City Cruises is the official source for pedestal tickets as well as the company that provides ferry transportation to the island.

  • Same-day pedestal reservations MAY be available at the ticket offices, but are extremely limited. Pedestal reservations are not available on Liberty Island.

 

Picking Up Your Pedestal Tickets

  • If traveling using a digital ticket we recommend downloading the tickets in advance or taking screenshots of pre-purchased tickets. Ensure mobile devices are well charged before your visit.

  • Pedestal tickets can also be printed out at home or picked up at the ticket office at The Battery, New York or Liberty State Park, New Jersey by the ticket purchaser.

  • When picking up the tickets, the purchaser must show photo ID and the same credit card used to reserve the tickets.

  • The time listed on the ferry ticket is the time you may join the queue at the security screening facility. It is not a reservation for a ferry departure or the time to enter the pedestal.

  • Queue times can be an hour or more during peak times and seasons, including summer, weekends, and holidays.

 
The secondary screening is a gray building which a park ranger is standing in front of.
Visitors must go though airport-style security to enter the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

NPS Photo

Pedestal Entrance
In order to enter the pedestal visitors must go through a secondary airport-style security checkpoint. Prohibited items can be checked at the lockers adjacent to the entrance.

Prohibited Items

The following items are not authorized inside the pedestal:

  • Food and Drinks (water is permitted in a clear plastic bottle)
  • Backpacks and Drawstring bags (including purses shaped like backpacks)
  • Suitcases, duffle bags, and oversized bags
  • Strollers
  • Laptop Computers
  • Long umbrellas
  • Tripods
 
screening lockers
Items prohibited inside the monument can be stored within secondary screening lockers before entry.








Lockers are located near the secondary screening building and require a 25¢ deposit (quarters only). Locker Size is approximately 12"x 12"x 18" and there are change machines available for $1 and $5 bills.

 
A Statue Cruises ferry full of visitors departs Ellis Island headed towards Liberty Island.
Purchasing Tickets

Statue City Cruises is our official source for tickets to the island.

A photo of the Statue of Liberty from the top of the pedestal looking up at the statue.
Basic Information

The information here will help you know what to expect when you visit.

 

Last updated: March 18, 2025

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Receiving Office
1 Ellis Island

Jersey City, NJ 07305

Phone:

212 363-3200

Contact Us