The fort that serves as the base of the Statue of Liberty will be repaired and restored under a Great American Outdoors Act appropriation/NPS

Repairs to the fort that is the base of the Statue of Liberty necessitated by two centuries of storms and weather in general will be tackled courtesy of a $22 million appropriation made through the Great American Outdoors Act. The work is expected to make drainage and safety improvements that will help preserve the structure and enhance accessibility for visitors.  

“The Great American Outdoors Act funding will allow us to build upon the great work that has been completed restoring the fort’s stone walls,” said John Piltzecker, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island superintendent. “Fort Wood has weathered two centuries of exposure to the elements in the middle of New York Harbor; this project will help ensure that it will continue to endure as the iconic star-shaped fort at the base of the Statue of Liberty.”  

Fort Wood is an eleven-pointed, star-shaped fort built between 1808 and 1811 on Bedloe’s (now Liberty) Island as part of New York’s harbor defense system. In 1877 the military use of the fort was suspended in preparation for the arrival of the Statue of Liberty from France. Between 1884 and 1886, the statue’s pedestal, designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt, was built within the fort’s courtyard. The statue was erected in 1886 and managed by the U.S. Lighthouse Board and the War Department. Management of Liberty Island was transferred to the National Park Service in 1933.  

The GAOA project will provide for long-term protection of the terreplein and vertical surfaces of the fort. The terreplein is the horizontal structure that connects the exterior walls of the fort to the base of the statue’s pedestal. The work will focus on deterioration and drainage issues caused by age, the marine environment and heavy use. The exterior levels of the fort will be waterproofed to halt or prevent leaks and water infiltration. In addition, 50,000 square feet of walking surface will be upgraded to improve drainage and aesthetics, as well as visitor access and safety.