The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were open Monday even though the federal government was shut down.

New York state officials announced over the weekend that the state would pay $65,000 a day for federal employees so that the parks could stay open. New York did the same during the previous shutdown five years ago.

Statue of Liberty visitors told News 12 New Jersey that they were glad that the statue was opened on Monday.

Fifth-grader Emma Tardani came from Michigan to visit the New York City area. 

“I'm really excited to go because this is my first time in New York,” she says.

Monday was the last day of her family's trip. If the sites hadn't been reopened, they would have had to go home without seeing it.

Emma's grandmother is retracing the steps of her own mother, who was an immigrant who came through Ellis Island.

“She came from Italy. The first thing they saw when they came to the United States was the Statue of Liberty,” said Adelia Van Meter. “Everyone on her boat came up from the other floors to the top of the boat and started cheering."

Ferries were running all day Monday to take people to and from the islands. The islands were closed this weekend due to the government shutdown. As many as 10,000 tourists visit the islands every weekend.

The shutdown officially ended Monday evening when President Donald Trump signed legislation to end it.