The crown has been off limits to the public since 9/11 for security reasons. With a 354-foot narrow stairwell, officials are concerned that in case of a medical emergency, the stairs will impede a rescue or that a fire could suffocate those on it.

Increasingly, pressure has been growing to reopen the crown. Congressman Anthony Weiner, one of the leading advocates to reopen Liberty’s crown, said:

“It is tight. It is cramped. It is hot. It probably isn’t completely safe to have everyone go up, in any numbers, at any time. But the Park Service is full of slightly dangerous things you can do.”

One of the proposals is to allow 10 tourists at a time to walk the steps. Selecting the 10 might be done by a lottery of some type.