Which storm caused the Statue of Liberty to close in 2012?

Hurricane Sandy caused the Statue of Liberty to close in 2012. The storm struck the New York Harbor region on October 29, flooding most of Liberty Island and damaging essential infrastructure.

The timing made the disruption especially notable. The statue’s interior had reopened on October 28 after a year-long renovation, but Sandy arrived the next day. Floodwater damaged electrical systems, mechanical equipment, utilities, walkways, and the ferry dock, even though the statue itself escaped major structural harm.

The closure lasted well beyond the storm. Liberty Island and the monument remained shut while crews repaired the island’s infrastructure, and the site reopened to visitors on July 4, 2013. Ellis Island, which is also part of the national monument, suffered serious flooding and required its own recovery work.

Hurricane Irene, Katrina, and Maria are separate storms and did not cause this particular 2012 closure. Another common mix-up is confusing the storm closure with the statue’s earlier, planned renovation closure, which had begun before Sandy arrived.