Statue of Liberty museum set to open amid immigration debate

The Statue of Liberty, which has welcomed generations of immigrants to US shores, is getting a new museum at a time when immigration is an explosive topic. The $100 million Statue of Liberty Museum, which is located near the base of “Lady Liberty” in New York harbor, opened on Thursday. Construction of the 26,000-square-foot (2,400-square-meter) glass-walled structure fringed with copper began in October 2016. From the rooftop of the new building, visitors have a sweeping view of the harbor, like “on the prow of a ship,” said project designer Cameron Ringness. “You get to climb up and you have these amazing views and a new perspective of the statue and the harbor,” Ringness said. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United States, greeting some 4.5 million people a year from around the world.