Statue of Liberty to Reopen for First Time Since 9/11 on July 4th

The Statue of Liberty stands looking out to New York Harbor on May 18, 2009 in New York City. Enhanced security around the statue and improvements at nearby Ellis Island are being funded by a $25 million grant provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America)

It's hot, it's dark and it's crowded, but people just can't wait to visit.

The Statue of Liberty's crown is opening on July Fourth for the first time in eight years. It closed shortly after terrorists leveled the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

The National Park Service denies the closing had anything to do with terrorism and says the statue's interior was in need of repair anyway.

But some wonder why it took so long for the crown to reopen.

New York Congressman Anthony Weiner calls the 8-year closure "a partial victory for terrorists" and an "embarrassment for the federal government."

Tickets for the July Fourth weekend sold out within hours.