Ellis Island (New York, USA) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and map.
The place from which America itself actually began - multinational and free, Ellis's "island of hopes and tears" is located at the mouth of the Hudson River, in New York harbor and is the first and largest reception point for immigrants in the United States. The first visitor crossed the threshold of its Immigration Service Center in 1892, the last one in 1954, during which time the ancestors of more than 40% of modern Americans "checked in" here. Therefore, it is not surprising that the island is sacred to the heart of every US citizen and is considered one of the main attractions of the United States. Today, there is an extensive and very interesting Museum of Immigration, from here you can admire the Statue of Liberty on a neighboring island and appreciate what America has become over the past 1.5 centuries, looking at the slender line of Manhattan skyscrapers.
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A bit of History and Geography
Ellis Island covers about 11 hectares and is located 1 km south of Manhattan in the harbor of New York. Once there was a small sand spit, on which the indigenous population of these places mined oysters, but during the construction of the New York subway, excavated soil began to be exported here, thanks to which a full-fledged island appeared. The beginning of commercial activity on the island was laid by the merchant Samuel Ellis, who opened in the 1770s. a tavern for the local fishmongers. 30 years later, his descendants sell the territory to the state of New York, which retains the historical name of the island. In 1814, the first large wave of immigrants arrived here, but the state immigration center opened here only in 1892. In 1900, the center received its own building, which now houses the Museum of Immigration.
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In the central lobby of the museum, visitors are greeted by an interactive panel "American Flag in Faces", where every American - a descendant of immigrants - can upload his photo.
What to see
The Immigration Museum is the main attraction of Ellis Island. It occupies the main building of the USCIS, an elegant French Renaissance structure built in the early 20th century by Boring & Tilton and topped with 4 copper domes. The exposition of the museum occupies more than 9000 sq. m, on which about 2,000 exhibits and 1,500 audio, video and photo documents are presented, and are devoted not only to the history of Ellis Island, but also to the migrations of peoples in the United States and on the planet as a whole.
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In the central lobby of the museum, visitors are greeted by an interactive panel "American Flag in Faces", where every American - a descendant of immigrants - can upload his photo. Following the instructions of the audio guide, you will have the opportunity to explore the path of the first visitors: find yourself in the distribution hall, undergo a medical examination and find out your future fate: where do you go - to the splendor of Manhattan or to the railway station, from where you will be sent anywhere in the United States. In the room dedicated to world migrations, there is an interactive globe, which displays the routes of human history. The American Settlement Hall will tell about the migrants of 1550-1890, and the modern halls will talk about immigration after 1954.
You should definitely pay attention to the American Wall of Honor - the names of more than 700 thousand immigrants are imprinted on copper plates, and its replenishment continues.
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Practical Information
Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum are included in the Statue Cruises ferry ticket with the Statue of Liberty. The ticket price is from 18.50 to 21.50 USD. Ferries leave every 30-45 minutes from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Battery Park Pier. An audio guide is included in the ticket price.