The Statue of Liberty has officially re-opened to the public after a renovation but the public will have wait until a massive storm has passed to see New York's most famous attraction.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and a group of US Military Academy cadets were the first to visit on Sunday. The statue had been closed for a year to undergo a $US30 million ($A29.17 million) interior renovation project. Visitors had been restricted to the grounds on Liberty Island during that time.
The renovation included replacing the stairs to the crown, as well as creating wheelchair access to one of the observation decks at the top of the pedestal.
But the monument will be closed on Monday and Tuesday because of the superstorm. It is expected to re-open on Wednesday.
Monster Hurricane Sandy is heading up the Atlantic Coast on a collision course with two other weather systems.
On Sunday New York City announced its subways, buses and trains will be shut down and its 1.1 million-student school system will also be closed on Monday. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also ordered the evacuation of part of lower Manhattan and other low-lying neighbourhoods.
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