Photo: Kaysha via Flickr CC
After NYC’s major shutdown of public attractions following Hurricane Sandy, most are finally open once again. But not all of New York’s big attractions have opened their doors again—and it might be a while for some of them.
The National Sept. 11th Memorial & Museum reopened this week, though it had to shut down temporarily for the Nor’easter storm that hit the city. Public parks were also reopened but forced to shut down on Wednesdays in lieu of the storm. City officials worried that high winds could be potentially dangerous and wanted to avoid any possible issues.
According to Fox News, the 9/11 reflective fountains were undamaged by Sandy, as was the “survivor tree.” The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were not so lucky, nor was the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, Brooklyn. All three remain closed to visitors indefinitely.
While the Statue of Liberty was not damaged herself, the infrastructure of Liberty Island and Ellis Island was significantly compromised. The docks that served as landing docks for ferries may need to be rebuilt as well, according to the New York Times.
Statue Cruises has seen an uptake in business since the ferries are out of commission. Normally, they take up to 7,500 passengers per day to the two islands.
Tourists are taking boat cruises around the harbor to try and get a good view of the statue nonetheless.
“We wanted to visit if we could,” said one Danish tourist, “it’s one thing we are knowing from New York. You see it in the newspapers, that’s why we wanted to visit.” The statue, whose torch went dark sometime during Sandy’s fury, is to be lit once again starting Friday, November 9th.
Most other major museums in NYC have had better luck, though, reopening in the past week or so. The Empire State Building reopened shortly after the storm passed, and Carnegie Hall reopened on Nov. 6th.