Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum

Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum offers great views and green space along with a look back into the experiences of early immigrants

View of Ellis Island Immigration Museum from Ferry
View of Ellis Island Immigration Museum from Ferry cc licensed photo by buggolo

Almost half of Americans are descended from the 12 million migrants that passed through first Federal immigration assessment station on Ellis Island hoping to achieve the "American Dream". To preserve this fundamental piece of shared history, Ellis Island was gazetted as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965.

After undergoing a major restoration, the processing halls where immigrants underwent legal and medical examinations were transformed into the Ellis Island Immigration Museum by the National Park Service to educate visitors about this national gateway.

Ellis Island is situated in New York Harbour and is only accessible by ferry, departing from Battery Park. Arrive early to avoid the lines; waiting times can exceed an hour during peak periods. Concessions are available on the island, but a more cost effective and appetizing option is to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the ample green space on Ellis Island. It is possible to book a ferry tour that visits both Liberty Island and Ellis Island in one day, but it is an ambitious undertaking.

The museum offers a variety of ranger guided tours, interactive performances, self-guided audio tours and a short film, which all give a good introduction to the immigrant experience on Ellis Island. Shutterbugs will enjoy the "Silent Voices" photographic exhibition chronicling the years Ellis Island was abandoned in the mid 20th century. The Ellis Island Junior Ranger program distributes a free children's activity booklet available from the information booth.

From March to October, free monthly genealogy workshops are offered on Ellis Island. Archives are housed in the American Family Immigration Center and you can research your ancestry on their website or in the center's research room. Genealogy enthusiasts will want to pack a pencil and paper to take rubbings of their family names listed on the Wall of Honor.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Address: Ellis Island, United States

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

4 Star Rating Ellis Island is a small island off the coast of Manhattan. You can take one of the many boats that leave from Battery Park and get to the island for about $40. The price includes a visit to the neighboring island of Liberty Island. The island was a place of hope for millions of people looking for a new life, as from 1852 to 1954 it welcomed immigrants, where they underwent medical examinations in order to be approved for entry into the United States. It is estimated that 40% of America's population has its roots in Ellis Island. Now more than 3 million tourists visit the island each year, in order to learn about the history of immigration to the country.
George Messinia - in the last week

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5 Star Rating It’s the first stop for ferry to Statue of Liberty from New York or New Jersey. If you have time then don’t skip the place. You can check the next ferry time for Statue of Liberty so that you can time your visit in accordance. It has whole history of US immigration process and how it used to work. The museum relishes all the history and gives wonderful experience. Don’t forget to go behind in the park and take clicks with New York skyline in the background. Overall a nice experience.
nilesh palkari - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Plenty to see, do, and read. Allocate at least an hour to explore the first floor, and there are three floors of information. They have a gift shop full of souvenirs and a cafe. Do the audio tour for more indepth tour.
Town Traveller - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating What a wonderful place to learn about your family's history, and see the statue of liberty up close. I found some names on the wall on Ellis Island that I'm going to explore. Very reasonably priced also.
Tammy Spearman - 4 months ago

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5 Star Rating I wish we had slotted more time to spend here. There is so much to see, read, and look at here — you could easily spend a few hours here. Much of what we saw and read was incredibly interesting. There are exhibits of peoples’ belongings that were brought with them from various countries, demographic information (what immigrant populations went to various states), and a walk through of the immigration process including medical screening checkpoints. Well worth the time you spend, but prepare to do a lot of walking. Might not be the best for smaller children.
Nicole Saleh - 3 weeks ago

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Directions

Subway Line Nearest Station Walking Time
1South Ferry4 minutes
N or RWhitehall Street5 minutes
4 or 5Bowling Green5 minutes

How to get to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum by Subway

Take the 1 train to South Ferry, turn left into Battery Park or take the N or R train to Whitehall Street, head north toward Pearl Street, turn left on Bridge Street, follow path into park or take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, head south on Broadway, turn right on Battery Place, turn left on Greenwich Street and continue into park.

Look for the Statue Cruise Ticket Office which is located inside the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park.


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