Liberty's crown to open to tourists

The crown of the Statue of Liberty, the US monument symbolizing freedom and democracy, may reopen to visitors by the July 4th holiday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday.

One of the first sights seen by millions of immigrants who arrived in New York harbor in the 19th and 20th centuries, the statue was closed to the public after the September 11, 2001 attacks because of safety concerns.

The museum gallery and observation deck at the landmark's base were reopened to the public in 2004, but access beyond that point remained prohibited.