Tour the Statue of Liberty and See Ellis Island

The Statue of Liberty is arguably the most iconic figure in all of New York. Likewise, Ellis Island is one of the most historically significant parts of New York. Each has played its role and, over the decades, has helped to make New York the American tourist milestone and attraction that it is today. Many people upon visiting New York ask about how to visit the Statue of Liberty, or Ellis Island. Many ask about both. If you are touring New York for the first time, or have been to New York before but want to see the truly significant sights, these historic locations are great places to start at.

How to Get to Ellis Island, and What to Do Once You Are There

In order to arrive on Ellis Island, you will need to take a ferry from either New Jersey or Battery Park City. The ride will take you across the New York Harbor, to the island itself. Typically, most people tend to prefer take the subway to get to either ferry location. It saves money on parking, and it is just overall more convenient.

Once on Ellis Island, you have many attractions to choose from. Perhaps the most popular is the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, a museum that tells the history of Ellis Island and immigration in to America. The tour has many interactive displays, standard displays and specialized tours for schools, families and more. Typically, many people choose the audio tour, which is a self-paced tour available in a range of languages that allows you to tour the museum, while learning the history of the island, at your own pace. You can also see a screening of “Island of Hopes, Island of Tears” while on the island—a film narrated by Gene Hackman, featuring immigrant stories, actual video footage from the island’s early history and hundreds of photographs.

A few interesting facts about Ellis Island:

• It is a common story that last names were changed at Ellis Island because the official didn’t know how to spell their name. In fact, the officials hired at Ellis Island during the immigration years were required to speak 3 different languages. If an official didn’t speak the language a translator was brought in to assist. It is generally believed that most of the name changes happened either prior to boarding the ship, or later in life, perhaps to make life easier.
• Not all immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island were granted entry to the United States. Reports differ, but experts generally agree about 2% of immigrants were sent back. Common reasons for denial include chronic disease, criminal background, insanity, and a lack of skills.
• Ellis Island was a small island that was greatly expanded for the purpose of building an immigration facility there.
• One third of the U.S. population can trace their ancestry through an immigrant that came through Ellis Island – over 100 million Americans.
• Twelve million immigrants passed through Ellis Island.
• Rare photos from Ellis Island on Time.com

How to Get to the Statue of Liberty, and What to Do Once You Are There

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of America, designed by one Frédéric Bartholdi. For over one hundred years, she has been a figure of our country. Luckily, the ferries that go to Ellis Island also go to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located. This means that, if you spend your time well, you can visit both locations within the same day. Touring the Statue of Liberty takes time. She is an enormous structure—an estimated 151 feet in height from her base to the tip of her torch. Originally 350 pieces and taking over 4 months to construct for a completion date of October 28, 1886, she is well worth the climb. From atop the Statue of Liberty, you can see all of the city. Free ranger-led tours are available for tourists each and every day, but they do take quite a bit of time, so we suggest bringing a lunch!

A few fast facts:

• Liberty Island and Ellis Island are technically closer to New Jersey, but due to land grants are considered part of New York City despite being owned by the U.S. Government.
• The Statue of Liberty is often undergoing maintenance, and parts of it may be closed – so check online for availability.
• There is a replica of the Statue of Liberty in Paris
• The formal name of the statue is actually Liberty Enlightening the World
• The statue was assembled twice. Once in Paris by its designer, and again in New York.
• Liberty Island was originally called Bedloe’s Island, and Civil War General Sherman was asked to pick the location.
• Grover Cleveland had the flame turned into a lighthouse, and it operated as one for over 16 years.
• In its day, it was the tallest iron-structure ever built (the inside frame was iron).
• The exterior is extremely thin: 3/32ths of an inch thick in most places (less than 2 pennies in thickness). The weight of the structure is carried by the iron framework within.
• When it was first built, the statue was not green but copper colored… and they almost painted it after it turned green!
• The current flame design is the third, and based on the original design.
• You can’t see the feet, but Lady Liberty stands next to broken shackles and chain… symbolizing freedom.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

—Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” (1883)

Making it an Early Day

In order to see all of Ellis Island, or the Statue of Liberty, you will need to start out early in the day. Over four million people visit the Statue of Liberty each year, and over two million visit Ellis Island. This means the tours will be significantly busy. So plan your day accordingly!