The Foundation, working with its public partner, the National Park Service, first tackled the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. A century of weather, pollution, and sightseeing had left Lady Liberty’s torch in need of replacement, her crown’s rays in need of strengthening, and pieces of her gown, hair and face in need of repairs. An army of architects, historians, engineers, and almost 1,000 laborers embarked on the project — which also involved the installation of new elevators and an informative exhibit in the Statue’s base.

July 4, 1986 saw a gala four-day event celebrating and unveiling the restoration. Fireworks filled the night skies and tall ships flocked New York Harbor. “Liberty Weekend,” attended by President Reagan and President Francois Mitterand of France, was broadcast to 1.5 billion people in 51 countries. The Foundation, the National Park Service, and the American people had made history with the most successful public-private partnership in the history of the United States.

The Foundation then turned its attention to the restoration of Ellis Island – the largest historical restoration in U.S. history. Ellis Island, our most potent symbol of the American immigrant experience, had deteriorated significantly. Again, the American people responded with passion and generosity.

When the Island opened to the public in September of 1990 – two years ahead of schedule – it unveiled the world-class Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The Foundation went on to restored two more buildings during the ’90s.

The Foundation later oversaw a major initiative to broaden the Museum’s content to tell the entire story of American immigration. With this comprehensive expansion, the Museum was renamed the “Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.”

The pre-Ellis Island galleries, “Journeys: The Peopling of America – 1550s-1890,” opened in 2011, explore the stories of the earliest arrivals including Native Americans, those who arrived against their will, and immigration during the Colonial and Victorian eras. The post-Ellis Island wing, “The Journey: New Eras of Immigration,” opened in 2015, focuses on immigration from 1954 to present times, reflecting the rapid pace of technological progress that has characterized migration since World War II and the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrants in the modern world.

In October 2016, the Foundation broke ground on the Statue of Liberty Museum. The concept was born out of the need to provide greater public access to the Statue’s story. With post-9/11 security measures in place, only a fraction of Liberty Island’s 4+ million visitors were ablle to access the original museum, which was located in the Statue’s pedestal.

The 26,000 square foot museum is the first new building construction undertaken by the Foundation. Three gallery spaces inspire and educate visitors about the Statue of Liberty in interactive and thought-provoking ways. The experience culminates with an up-close view of Liberty’s most iconic symbol, her original torch, held high for nearly 100 years.

Contributions for the $100 million project came in from around the world, demonstrating once again the public’s committment to this iconic monument and all she represents.