On June 3, 1980, a bomb exploded in the museum at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Initially, at least five separate terrorist groups took responsibility, but, within days, the bombing was attributed to the Croatian Freedom Fighters.

The bomb, which was placed in a wooden exhibit case in the museum's Story Room, exploded at 7:25 P.M., an hour after the last ferry full of visitors left Liberty Island. Although a dozen residents and five workers were still on the island, no one was injured. The explosion damaged a large section of the room's ceiling, as well as some contents of the exhibit case, including a first publication of Emma Lazarus's poem, which begins, “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Damages exceeded $15,000.

The bombers left no note at the scene, and federal authorities had few ...