Statue of Liberty to Close for One Year after 125th Anniversary

New York City's iconic Statue of Liberty will close to tourists for one year beginning in October as the stern-faced, torch-carrying figure undergoes a $27.25 million renovation to make the interior safer and more accessible.

Liberty Island, however, will remain open, said officials.

The National Parks Service, which manages the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, plans to close the monument on Oct. 28, after its 125th anniversary dedication.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement on Wednesday that the statue needs renovation for additional safety improvements that were promised in 2009.

"I promised that we would continue to upgrade the interior to make it safer and more accessible for all," Salazar said. "With today's announcement, we are taking a major step in bringing a 19th Century icon into the 21st Century."

The renovations will include updating the statue's mechanical and electrical systems, adding new fire suppression equipment, replacing elevators and enclosing one of the staircases for safety.

An enduring symbol of freedom for all, the Statue of Liberty was once the city's best-known and most-visited tourist attraction. However, in the decade since the 9/11 attacks, the statue has only recently reopened in full.

A present from the people of France, "Lady Liberty" arrived on June 17, 1885 in New York Harbor in more than 200 pieces. Assembly was completed and the statue opened to the public on Oct. 28, 1886 with a dedication ceremony by President Grover Cleveland.

As Ellis Island opened in 1892, the Statue of Liberty came to symbolize freedom for the 12 million immigrants that passed by as they entered the U.S.