A museum currently in the Statue of Liberty's pedestal may move to a stand-alone facility on Liberty Island/NPS

The Statue of Liberty stands as a beacon of freedom in New York Harbor, but due to safety concerns that limit the number of people allowed inside, most visitors see only a portion of the exhibits on display at Liberty Island, and even then only by reservation.

The National Park Service and Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation hope to change that by moving the current museum out of the statue’s pedestal and into a new 20,000-square-foot building within Statue of Liberty National Monument. The museum would accommodate up to 500 people and be located on the northwest portion of the Liberty Island adjacent to the Administration Building. The steps of the building would serve as a seating area to view the statue or activities that may occur in the Flag Plaza.

If the proposal goes forward, a temporary pier will be built on the northern side of the island to facilitate moving construction materials to and from the island. Once construction of the museum is completed, the pier will be dismantled and removed. The Park Service is taking comments on its Environmental Assessment through June 25.

Currently, only about 20 percent of visitors to Liberty Island are able to explore the museum. While free outdoor audio tours are available, there is limited space for visitors to sit or take shelter in bad weather. The space would house exhibits on the history of the statue, including its creation, initial construction, and later restoration. Exhibits exploring the ideas of liberty as inspired and represented by the statue also would be displayed. The facility would also include a theater, bookstore, restrooms, and administration space.

To comment

• Deadline: June 25, 2016
• Online: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/STLI_Liberty_Museum_EA
• Mail: Statue of Liberty National Monument, ATTN: New Museum Construction Project, Ellis Island Receiving Office, Jersey City, NJ 07305