Fourth of July Features

In an ironic riff to royalty, Lady Liberty's crown is open to visitors again this July 4 following several modifications made for safety reasons following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This National Geographic site details the several of the alterations, as well as others that are upcoming, only the most recent in the statue's long history. Want to see what you're missing? This New York Times site offers a panoramic view inside the crown or see a video tour here by Representative Anthony Weiner. Oh Ranger provides the even more colorful story of the statue's original history, which includes how the arm arrived first, and then the head put in an appearance at the International Centennial Exhibition to raise money for the rest of the project, a perennial problem. But it was Joseph Pulitizer who ultimately figured out a strategy that funded the project by making it truly an all-American work of art while raising his newspaper's circulation at the same time.
In other Fourth of July related matters, check out this site for some information on how to take successful photos of fireworks using digital cameras. Ever wonder how fireworks ... well, work? Check out Kaboom!, a PBS web site, or if you'd like a few more details, look at Chemical of the Week's Firework's entry, which explains very specifically how different colors are created. And it's worth taking a look at this page from the National Council on Fireworks Safety if you are planning on shooting off any fireworks of your own. And finally, for a little long lost holiday fun, you might check out this video of Jean Shepherd on You Tube, it's just "The Great American Fourth of July."