New Statue of Liberty Museum Prepares for 4.3 Million Visitors
NEW YORK — A groundbreaking ceremony took place during October to welcome the new Statue of Liberty Museum to Ellis Island. At 26,000 square feet, the museum offers views of the New York Harbor along with extensive information on an iconic American statue.
The $70 million museum was designed by New York-based FXFOWLE and New York-based ESI Design with Boontown, N.J.-based Phelps Construction Group responsible for construction. The museum is slated to open in 2019 and expects more than 4.3 million visitors each year.
Nicholas Garrison, an architect with FXFOWLE, said the goal was to design a building that didn’t compete with the statue and also something that wasn’t the first thing visitors saw upon exiting the ferry.
“We wanted to make sure our building didn’t impede the experience,” Garrison said in a statement.
The building’s design is inspired by the water that surrounds it and features a staircase that rises to the green roof where a paved terrace and grassy surface exist as a habitat for migratory birds. According to Garrison, the green roof plays off the idea that it’s an extension of the park.
The museum will offer different exhibitions that educate visitors on the origins of New York. Photo Credit (all): Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island FoundationUpon entering, visitors will be greeted by a large mural of 50 star sculptures that resemble the American flag. In the following three galleries, they will experience a virtual flyover of the statue’s interior while learning the story of the statue. The experience culminates in the Inspiration Gallery, where the original torch takes center stage, according to a statement from New York Daily News.
Because of upgraded security and space restrictions, only 20 percent of the 4.3 million annual visitors to Liberty Island are allowed inside the statue and 7 percent make it up to the crown. The new building will triple the size of the current museum and give many more visitors an opportunity to experience this history of Ellis Island.