Statue of Liberty Museum

New York, NY

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” Even if you’ve never visited Liberty Island, poet Emma Lazarus’s words at the base of the Statue of Liberty are etched into global memory. To honor this enduring symbol of freedom, NBBJ’s experience design studio, ESI, brings the story of liberty to life through immersive, interactive experiences that celebrate its past and inspire its future.

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Designed to provoke insight, stir emotions, and inspire ideas about the Statue of Liberty and all she represents, ESI created the experience and exhibits for the 26,000-square-foot museum, reimagining artifacts and pairing them with digital media that invites visitors into the ongoing story of Liberty.

Features

The cinematic journey begins in the Immersive Theater, where curved screens feature drone footage, archival imagery and motion graphics that educate visitors about the people and stories shaped by the statue.

The experience culminates in the Inspiration Gallery, where visitors encounter the statue’s original torch set against sweeping views of Lady Liberty and the New York skyline, and can add their portraits to the “Becoming Liberty” digital mural—creating a living reflection of freedom today. Former President Barack Obama praised the Statue of Liberty Museum and ESI, calling the space “beautiful, thought provoking, and welcoming to all citizens—of our country and of our world.”

Project Details

Client Name
Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc

Square Footage
26,000 SF

Program

Museum

Services
Experience design

Phase
Complete