David Luchsinger, 61, the superintendent of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, lives with his wife, Debbie, in a small brick house on Liberty Island, which is almost 15 acres. The closest thing they have to a neighbor, Lady Liberty, is obscured by trees on their plot of the island, as are the approximately 3.5 million tourists who visit the monument each year. (Mr. Luchsinger will remain on the island and on the job during the statue’s renovation, which starts in October.) Sunday is for taking the boat to church or to shop, and for relaxing on the island — under surveillance.

ALEX VADUKUL

UP AND AT ’EM We’re up at 6 or earlier. We have breakfast — oatmeal raisin bran, special blueberry pancakes — and then do exercises. Weights inside. If it’s nice outside we’ll go and do some stretches by the water.

WATCHFUL EYES We take a stroll around the island before the visitors get here, before the staff gets here. I always make a point of telling the dispatch folks that we’re walking around the island. There’s 24-hour surveillance. Even though I’m superintendent, if they don’t recognize me from a distance on the cameras, they’ll ask, “Who’s walking around the island at 6 a.m.?”

MEET AND GREET Because we live in the park, it’s a 24/7 job, even on Sundays. I always have an open-door policy with my staff. If they need to vent or if something comes up, I’m here. Debbie and I also like to meet many of the visitors who come in. We speak a little Japanese, French, and we’re learning Italian now, so we sometimes talk with tourists.