Statue of Liberty Closed Due to Government Shutdown, Leaving Tourists Disappointed

The government has shut down and it took the Statue of Liberty with it, but not everyone knew that. Thousands of New York City tourists were turned away from the landmark as it is closed amongst the government shutdown.

The closest tourists could get to the Statue of Liberty is by taking a one-hour boat trip around New York harbor or getting their money back, AFP reports.

Boaters who usually take tourists to the National Park Service-owned Statue of Liberty had to use a lot of patience and multiple languages to explain to tourists that the famous landmark wasn't open.

"No statue today, nobody is going on the island," Brian Fahey, who works for Statue Cruises at the Battery Park pier in southern Manhattan said according to AFP. "But you can join a one-hour harbor cruise that goes by the Statue, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, the Brooklyn bridge."

Signs were also put up to advise people of the changes. "The government has temporarily shut both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Please join our one hour sightseeing tour and see the magnificent sights of New York harbor," the sign read.

However tourists weren't satisfied with just a boat ride.
"I just arrived yesterday from Seattle, I bought my tickets yesterday, they could have suspended the sales, or sent notifications," Shriram Parameshwaran, a 26-year-old engineer told AFP. He admitted that he didn't understand what the shutdown was about. He only wanted his money back.

Stefan Neuhaus of Berlin had a better idea but was still very disappointed that he wouldn't be able to see the statue. "It is a very bad political system, the opposition has such strong power," he said."I was very happy, I had tickets for the crown and now it's impossible... there is no possibility until November and we'll be gone."

Michael Mueller, from Arizona, along with his wife, Bea, planned a trip to New York six months ago. "I am really unhappy with Washington, by the executive power and Congress, they cannot get anything done," he said. "I'd like to tell them 'get it done'."

The Statue of Liberty regularly sees 8,000 visitors a day.

Tourists and workers alike took a hit by the shutdown. "People in the concession stands on the island, they have all been furloughed," a staff member told AFP.
It is not clear when the Statue will reopen, but it will be shut as long as the shutdown continues. The Statue just reopened in July after Hurricane Sandy shut it down in October 2012.
Luckily for tourists, there are plenty of other things to do in New York.