<P> The statue, including the pedestal and base, closed on October 29, 2011, for installation of new elevators and staircases and to bring other facilities, such as restrooms, up to code . The statue was reopened on October 28, 2012, only to close again a day later due to Hurricane Sandy . Although the storm did not harm the statue, it destroyed some of the infrastructure on both Liberty Island and Ellis Island, severely damaging the dock used by the ferries bearing visitors to the statue . On November 8, 2012, a Park Service spokesperson announced that both islands would remain closed for an indefinite period for repairs to be done . Due to lack of electricity on Liberty Island, a generator was installed to power temporary floodlights to illuminate the statue at night . The superintendent of Statue of Liberty National Monument, David Luchsinger, whose home on the island was severely damaged, stated that it would be "optimistically...months" before the island was reopened to the public . The statue and Liberty Island reopened to the public on July 4, 2013 . Ellis Island remained closed for repairs for several more months but reopened in late October 2013 . For part of October 2013, Liberty Island was closed to the public due to the United States federal government shutdown of 2013, along with other federally funded museums, parks, monuments, construction projects and buildings . The statue and Liberty Island were briefly closed on July 4, 2018, due to a protester against American immigration policy climbing on to the statue . </P> <P> On October 7, 2016, construction started on a new Statue of Liberty museum on Liberty Island . The new $70 million, 26,000 - square - foot (2,400 m) museum will be able to accommodate all of the island's visitors when it opens in 2019, as opposed to the current museum, which only 20% of the island's visitors can visit. The museum, designed by FXFOWLE Architects, will integrate with the parkland around it . Von Fürstenberg heads the fundraising for the museum, and the project had garnered more than $40 million in fundraising as of groundbreaking . </P> <P> The statue is situated in Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island south of Ellis Island, which together comprise the Statue of Liberty National Monument . Both islands were ceded by New York to the federal government in 1800 . As agreed in an 1834 compact between New York and New Jersey that set the state border at the bay's midpoint, the original islands remain New York territory despite their location on the New Jersey side of the state line . Liberty Island is one of the islands that are part of the borough of Manhattan in New York . Land created by reclamation added to the 2.3 acres (0.93 ha) original island at Ellis Island is New Jersey territory . </P> <P> No charge is made for entrance to the national monument, but there is a cost for the ferry service that all visitors must use, as private boats may not dock at the island . A concession was granted in 2007 to Statue Cruises to operate the transportation and ticketing facilities, replacing Circle Line, which had operated the service since 1953 . The ferries, which depart from Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, also stop at Ellis Island when it is open to the public, making a combined trip possible . All ferry riders are subject to security screening, similar to airport procedures, prior to boarding . Visitors intending to enter the statue's base and pedestal must obtain a complimentary museum / pedestal ticket along with their ferry ticket . Those wishing to climb the staircase within the statue to the crown purchase a special ticket, which may be reserved up to a year in advance . A total of 240 people per day are permitted to ascend: ten per group, three groups per hour . Climbers may bring only medication and cameras--lockers are provided for other items--and must undergo a second security screening . </P>

Where is the statue of liberty located exactly