Access to the Statue of Liberty’s torch was closed in 1916, after the Black Tom explosion damaged the statue and the torch area was never reopened to the public.

What happened

The closure is tied to the Black Tom sabotage in New York Harbor on July 30, 1916, when an explosion sent shrapnel into the Statue of Liberty and led to the torch being shut off to visitors.

Why it stays closed

The torch has remained off-limits ever since, even though the statue itself can still be visited in other areas. Recent reporting in 2026 notes that rare access to the torch is still unusual and typically limited to special coverage or maintenance-related access.

In one line

So the short answer is: 1916.