The Statue of Liberty is open to the public today for the first time since Hurricane Sandy wreaked destruction on Liberty Island more than eight months ago.
The storm surge put about 75 percent of the island under water, officials said. Although the statue itself was unharmed, docks and pathways were torn apart, and water and electrical systems were destroyed.
The iconic statue was closed for a year for renovations and had reopened just one day before the storm hit. Now the attraction is open again in time for the July 4th holiday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10:30 a.m. this morning.