387. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

What is it: The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the USA. It was built by Gustave Eiffel to designs by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and constructed on Liberty Island in the Upper New York Bay in 1886. Ellis Island is about half a mile away and was the point of immigration between 1892 until 1954 for 12 million people that entered the USA.
What's it like: Ellis Island is fantastic. The museum is fascinating - the Great Hall where immigrants were processed is an incredibly evocative place. You can really imagine what it was like to arrive after a long journey full of hope and trepidation.
Where: New York, USA
When: July 2009
How: We stayed in New York for 3 days and saw the Empire State Building (200) as well.

Worth noting: You can join a boat trip that takes you to both locations. Only 240 people per day are allowed to climb to Liberty's crown. 1,000 tickets per day are issued for access to the pedestal.
Place in the 2015 edition: 144
Do they deserve their place in the top 500: 100% yes, and I'm shocked that they dropped down in the 2020 list. The Statue of Liberty is probably the most iconic figure in the world. As the point of arrival for 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island is fascinating. I'd put them higher than the Empire State Building or the Golden Gate Bridge.