Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:New York, New York
Tel:
(212) 363-3200
Lady Liberty continues to shine brightly. After bearing witness to thousands of immigrants to America's shores, the Statue of Liberty National Monument still attracts thousands of visitors a year. Situated in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty National Monument offers a day filled with history and enjoyment.
Completed in 1886 by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Alexander Gustave Eiffel, the Statue of Liberty served as a commemoration of America's centennial and, for many immigrants, was the first sight of the United States they saw after voyaging across the Atlantic. Nearby Ellis Island, in operation from 1892 to 1954, was a main port of entry into the US, receiving more than 12 million immigrants to the United States during that time span, and helping to enrich the melting pot of America.
Visitors will be treated to either ranger-guided, 45-minute tours, or self-guided tours of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum's three sprawling levels, including the "American Family Immigration History Center," a repository of passenger records for those entering the port in the years 1892-1924. Two theaters here continuously loop the award-winning film "Island of Hope, Island of Tears," as well as show short performances about the immigrant experience. There are also 45-minute, ranger-guided tours of the base of the Statue of Liberty, recently reopened after the September 11 attacks; an exhibit tracing the history of the statue; a display of the original 1886 torch; and a plaque, with Emma Lazarus' 1883 sonnet, the "New Colossus" inscribed on it, affixed to the inside walls of the statue's pedestal. A "Time Pass" for the Statue of Liberty must be reserved ahead of time along with the ferry ticket, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To be sure to experience both sites to their fullest, it's best to get there early. Concessions are available on both Liberty and Ellis islands.
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is accessible by ferry from either the Castle Clinton National Monument, in the Battery Park Subway station in Manhattan, or the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Visit the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and see where the history of liberty comes to life.