4th Of July Statue Of Liberty 2013: Re-Opens For Independence Day, Repairs Cost $59 Million, But No Electricity, Sewage System, Or Telephone Lines On Ellis Island

4th Of July 2013 marks the re-opening of the Statue of Liberty, after Hurricane Sandy swamped Liberty Island the day after the statue's 126th birthday.

A large crowd gathered for Independence Day, 4th Of July, on the island and watched the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Politicians and performers gathered to celebrate the occasion on the 4th Of July. Those present included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and singer and actor Dominic Chianese, known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO series "The Sopranos." Visitors arrived by ferry boats from Battery Park.

"People will have, more or less, the same access to Liberty Island that they had before," said John Warren, a spokesman for the Statue of Liberty National Monument, CBS News reports.

Superstorm Sandy flooded most of the 12 acres of the island last fall, with waters reaching as high as 8 feet. The statue, called Lady Liberty, was spared from the destruction, but the grounds on the island were badly damaged. Railings broke, docks and paving stones were torn up and buildings were flooded. The storm destroyed boilers, sewage pumps and electrical systems, CBS News reports.

The damage to Liberty Island and neighboring Ellis Island cost an estimated $59 million.

Unfortunately, the neighboring Ellis Island will not be open anytime soon. Security screening for visitors will be administered in lower Manhattan, due to the unavailability of Ellis Island to the public, according to CBS News.

The island still doesn't have working electricity, sewage systems or telephone lines, Warren said.

There is still no official reopening date for Ellis Island.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France as a symbol of friendship and the importance of liberty between the two countries. It was dedicated in 1886 and attracts about 3.5 million visitors every year, CBS News reports.