New York's iconic Statue of Liberty is joining the Internet age as its 125th birthday is celebrated.

Five webcams have been placed on Lady Liberty's torch that will give viewers around the world distinctive views of New York Harbor, the tablet in her hands and the grounds around the statue on Liberty Island. The cameras will be switched on Friday, marking the anniversary in 1886 the statue first opened, and operate around the clock.

The statue was donated by France to the U.S. and has long stood as a symbol of freedom for immigrants migrating to the U.S. Many Americans associate its significance with a 19th century poem by Emma Lazarus, depicting the statue calling for “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

The webcams were donated by the U.S. company Earthcam and will provide the best views from the statue for most of the next year. After Friday's celebration, the U.S. government's parks agency is closing the statue for a $27 million renovation to upgrade its stairwells, elevators and mechanical systems.

The work will take up to a year, but while the interior of the statue is being made safer, the Liberty Island park will remain open to visitors.