“Get Out There” is a column for itchy footed humans written by Paste contributor Blake Snow. Although different now, travel is better than ever. Today we “visit” the Statue of Liberty.
On a recent trip to Amsterdam, I overheard a New Yorker say something I’ve never heard before. “I’ve lived in the city all my life and have never visited the Statue of Liberty,” she confessed to a flummoxed local who had inquired about the American icon. “I should really see it someday.” By the looks of it, the woman was in her golden years—probably a retiree.
I didn’t get a chance to follow up with her before she left the scene, but her admission got me thinking. How many other New Yorkers have never visited the Statue of Liberty, one of the most popular and highest-rated attractions in the entire country?
Although unscientific, I took an informal poll of a dozen city-dwellers who have either lived in the city all their lives or have lived there for many years. To my surprise, not a single one had visited the statue. Obviously many of the city’s 8.5 million residents have. But I expected more positive answers from the people I interviewed.
“I took the Staten Island ferry many times, which runs right by the statue, but I never visited the actual island,” admits my brother-in-law, Adam Miele, a commercial musician who now lives in Atlanta. He’s not the only one.
Helena Fistel, a producer for Thrillist, was born and raised in New York. “The only time I didn’t live here was during four years of college and a brief study abroad program,” she says. Having traveled the world, surely she’s visited the statue—right?
Nope. “I’ve always been interested in visiting it,” she assures me. “I can quite literally see her from my backyard.” What’s the hold up, then? “Maybe it’s knowing that I live here and can go whenever I please… but never do. I suppose I feel more pressure to see everything everywhere else first.”
Now before you start criticizing these New Yorkers for taking something as famous as the Statue of Liberty for granted, how many of you live in close proximity to something famous, newsworthy, distinct, or significant but have never visited? Who hasn’t felt similar pressure to see the outside world first before exploring your own backyard?
I’m definitely in that camp (as I’ve previously written about). After all, I lived in Georgia until I was 24 and not once did I see historic Savannah, Stone Mountain, or the state’s dreamy Atlantic coastline. When you feel like you can visit something at any time, many of us usually don’t—until it’s too late.
That whole “taken for granted” approach is probably even worse for the many New Yorkers who see the statue every day—either from their home (in Helena’s case) or on their daily commute. She ain’t going nowhere—forgetaboutit!
There are definitely worse things in life than failing to see your most popular local attraction. What’s more, maybe you have zero interest in visiting what incoming tourists like about your area. Maybe you hate crowds. Or maybe you’re too busy making a living or pursuing other hobbies to make time to see what’s right in front of you, under your own nose.
If, however, you make the very human assumption that there will always be tomorrow, you might miss something you’ve always wanted to see. “With the Statue of Liberty, I know I will make it at some point, even though it’s been 28 years!” Fistel concludes, adding that many, if not most, of her local friends are in the same boat.
“But I promise I am going soon. Maybe I need to plan a ‘be a tourist in your own city’ day.”
Don’t we all, Helena. Don’t we all.
Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and frequent travel columnist. He lives in Provo, Utah with his adolescent family and two dogs.