New, larger Statue of Liberty Museum being built on Liberty Island

Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, is about to receive a new 26,000-sf Statue of Liberty Museum. The museum will provide guests to the tiny island an alternative experience if they are not one of the lucky few to actually get inside the statue.

The $70 million museum is being designed by FXFOWLE and will be built by Phelps Construction Group. Phelps has worked closely with FXFOWLE in order to determine the most efficient way to construct the sustainable building.

The first floor of the new museum will be built above the 500-year flood level and will have the ability to withstand hurricane force winds. Part of the roof will be planted with vegetation native to the area while the rest will be used as a viewing platform flanked on one side by Lady Liberty and on the other by the Manhattan skyline.

The interior of the museum will feature exhibits and interactive displays providing information about the Statue of Liberty’s history, influence, and legacy. ESI Design will create the exhibits, which will include a theater, an engagement gallery, and an inspiration gallery. One of the largest pieces on display in the museum will be the Statue of Liberty’s original torch, which was replaced during a renovation of the statue in the 1980s. The torch will be displayed in a glass-walled space allowing visitors to view the old torch and its replacement at the same time, according to The New York Times.

Funding for the museum is being covered by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, which has already raised about $40 million.

The expected completion date for the new museum is in 2019.