With no way of knowing the possibility of more high-profile attacks against United States after September 11, 2001, federal and local agencies decided in favor of safety and immediately closed off to the public a number of high-profile structures that could possibly be targeted in future attacks. Among them was Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. While the island was soon re-opened, the Statue remained closed until improvements in its emergency systems could be made.

On this day, July 4, in 2009 the Statue of Liberty reopened temporarily to allow visitors ascending to the crown. In keeping with the higher-security times, visitors could only ascend 10 at a time, and passengers taking ferries across the water to the island for the first time were screened by metal detectors.

In 2011 the Statue closed closed once more in a scheduled improvement of safety systems. Interior mechanical and electrical equipment would get an upgrade along with its fire-suppression systems. A new elevator would be installed, and the current shaft improved for better fire resistance. Projected opening was announced to be in October of 2012, just in time for Lady Liberty’s birthday.