Statue of Liberty Reopens

The Statue of Liberty finally reopened on Independence Day months after Superstorm Sandy swamped its little island as people across the U.S. celebrated freedom and President Barack Obama urged citizens to live up to the words of the Declaration of Independence.

The statue's reopening Thursday was a sign of recovery as the nation celebrated its independence in a variety of ways - from a solemn fireworks tribute to fallen firefighters to traditional parades and concerts to competitive hot dog eating.

A large crowd gathered for the holiday and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Liberty Island with federal officials and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Lines stretched blocks long for the boat to the island, which left from the busy southern tip of Manhattan.

The statue was spared in the October storm, but Lady Liberty's island took a serious beating. Railings broke, docks and paving stones were torn up and buildings were flooded. The storm destroyed electrical systems, sewage pumps and boilers. Hundreds of National Park Service workers from as far away as California and Alaska spent weeks cleaning mud and debris.