經過12天的關閉後自由女神像于周日重新開放。
擔心可能會錯過紐約地標的遊客為此興奮不已。
於是他們湧向炮臺公園搭乘前往自由島的渡輪。
“我們沒想到能過去,這完全超出我們的預期,”一位加拿大遊客說道。
自由女神像是10月1日關閉的大約400座國家博物館及公園的其中之一。
這是由於聯邦預算糾紛造成包括美國國家公園服務設施等在內的部分聯邦機構被關閉的結果。
紐約州表示關閉使數百萬美元的旅遊收入打了水漂。
所以,它同意支付國家公園管理局370000美元面向遊客從周日到週四開放自由女神像。
而三個其他州也與聯邦政府有類似的交易。
亞利桑那州官員決定一天花費93000美元讓遊客重返大峽谷。
州長讓·鮑威爾表示大峽谷旅遊聖地值得這樣的投入。
“它為經濟,為美國亞利桑那州及我們的稅收財源帶來大量收入。
所以這是理所應當的事情。
而當我們7天都是關閉狀態,我們不得不重新評估,但我們最終下定決心。”鮑威爾說道。
大約三分之二重新開放大峽谷的資金由附近城鎮塔塞恩捐贈。
鎮長葛列格·布萊恩表示關閉傷及本地生意。
“我們估計在第一周就失去了超過一百萬美元,收入按照門票費用及這裡的銷售商收入進入社區及公園服務。
所以11天我們損失的是數百萬美元,” 布萊恩說道。
在其他地方,南達科塔州支付152000美元從週一開始重新開放拉什莫爾山10天之久。
這處鐫刻著四位美國總統臉孔的峭壁每年幾乎吸引三百萬遊客到訪。
而猶他州花費160萬美元於週五為期10天開放8座國家公園。
共和黨控制的眾議院已經批准了一些資助包括國家公園在內的部分政府議案。
但是,民主黨領導的參議院和白宮反對部分措施,呼籲議院應該同意立刻開放整個政府。
The Statue of Liberty was back in business on Sunday after a 12-day closure.
Tourists, who feared they might miss the New York icon, were thrilled.
They flocked to Battery Park to catch the ferry to Liberty Island.
"We didn't think we were going to be able to go, so this is beyond anything that we had expected," said a Canadian tourist.
The Statue of Liberty is one of about 400 national monuments and parks that closed on October 1.
That is when disputes over the federal budget prompted a partial shutdown of federal agencies, including the National Park Service.
New York State said the shutdown was costing New York City millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue.
So, it agreed to pay the National Park Service $370,000 to open the statue to visitors from Sunday to Thursday.
Three other states have made similar deals with the federal government.
Arizona officials decided to spend $93,000 a day to let visitors back into the Grand Canyon.
Governor Jan Brewer said the site is worth it.
"This brings an enormous amount of revenue to the economy, to the state of Arizona, and to our tax coffers.
So it was the right thing to do.
And when we run out of seven days, we'll have to reassess, but we are committed," said Brewer.
About two-thirds of the funds to re-open the Canyon were donated by the nearby town of Tusayan.
Mayor Greg Bryan said the closure hurt local business.
"We estimate that well over a million dollars in the first week alone was lost, in terms of revenues coming into the community and into the Park Service with regard to their gate fees, as well as the revenues from the concessionaires up here.
So in 11 days, we're talking millions of dollars, " said Bryan.
Elsewhere, South Dakota is paying $152,000 to re-open Mount Rushmore for 10 days, starting Monday.
The cliff bearing the faces of four American presidents draws almost three million visitors a year.
And Utah opened up eight of its national sites on Friday for a 10-day period, at a cost of $1.6 million.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has approved several bills to fund parts of the government including national parks.
But the Democratic-led Senate and the White House oppose partial measures, saying the House should agree to open the entire government at once.
