A Special Gift

Visitors will be able to climb into the crown of the Statue of Liberty beginning July 4, the Obama administration announced Friday.

"On July 4th, we are giving American a special gift," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a press release. "We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to Lady Liberty's crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where the forbearers of millions of American families first saw the new world."

Visitors must use a narrow 168-step double-helix spiral staircase to gain access to the crown, which will be limited to 10 people at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger.

The crown was closed after Sept. 11, 2001, because of concerns that it has no easy exit in case of emergency.