Security at Tourist Icons

Tourists and security at one of the nation’s most visible icons seems to be pretty relaxed. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of the most famous landmarks in the country. And if terrorists were to pick a landmark, it could be the place.

Or, it could be the statue of Liberty. No matter, as vacationers travel the great expanse that is the United States, security is well established, -- though it may seem relaxed.

There have been a few credible threats over the years, but most of them have been pranks and isolated incidents. In 2008, a group of pro-Tibet protesters tried to climb up the Golden Gate, and in 2009, members of Greenpeace unfurled a banner atop Mount Rushmore.

At other icons in the United States, security is as serious as airport security. Among the most secure are the the White House, Washington Monument, Liberty Bell and Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

The Government Accounting Office hit the nail on the head when officials released a report in 2009, saying that security at the nation’s monuments needed improvement. The U.S. Park Police said something similar a year earlier.

It is tourism season nationwide. Don’t be surprised that security has stepped up a bit from a year ago, and there could be single access points at some monuments. Gone are the days when a tourist could walk up to the Washington Monument from any direction.

More could probably be done to make the American icons safer, but there is a delicate balance to protecting the sites and the public’s right to have them be free and open.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.