Anyone ever been in the Statue of Liberty's TORCH?

[Hail_Ants]

I’d always heard (from mine & other’s parents, older teachers etc.) the line about how, “You used to be able to go up to the torch but they closed it because it got too weak”. I’d always assumed this meant it was still open until the 50s maybe, and that most (or at least some) of these folks actually went up in it.

But I’ve just read that the torch closed to the general public in 1916! And, that it closed because it was damaged by the shockwave from a munitions explosion on the NJ shore!

Is this all true? Has anyone here ever been up in the torch? Maybe via some special circumstances. How narrow is the ladder climb up to it? Can you get to it off the same stairs that go to the crown? Or is it completely separate?

[Blueapple]

from here

The current torch was fabricated for the 1984-86 restoration as a replica of the 1886 original, which had been altered over the years, had deteriorated and is now on display in the pedestal lobby.

You still can’t climb into it.

People will say, `When I was a kid, I climbed to the torch,' '' said Brian Feeney, spokesman for the National Parks of New York Harbor. It’s not true.’’

The torch has been closed since a 1916 explosion in a New Jersey munitions dump – saboteurs were suspected – left it structurally unstable.

It's a rather difficult thing to visit anyway,'' said Feeney. It’s a vertical ladder that goes through the arm, and at the elbow it takes a bend and becomes very narrow.’

[Will_Repair]

When we were kids, my brother and I climbed the stairs to the top of the Washington Monument.

[mmmiiikkkeee]

Remo Willams was in the torch and slid down the arm while under attack from hired goons! In fact, he climbed all over her shapely body. Chiun wasn’t of much help…