Ellis Island - New York City, NY

Address:Ellis Island
New York, New York

There is no other spot in the United States that more Americans connect to than Ellis Island. It is estimated that nearly half of the American population can trace their lineage to an immigrant who passed through the immigration port of Ellis Island, located just minutes from the southern tip of Manhattan. Because of this, it is considered one of the most widely visited tourist sites in the entire country!

Visitors to Ellis Island will learn the story of the Ellis Island immigration experience. Between the years of 1892-1954, more than twelve million people experienced the immigrant life from boat to the promised land of the U.S. Each of these people had a story and an unforgettable experience that together draw up the vivid picture of immigrant life that Ellis Island represents today.

This "Gateway to America" served immigrants from all nationalities and background, all contributing to the expansion and multitudinous of the American Dream and the cultural melting pot that have made our country what it is today. The documentary "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" documents the lives of some of these immigrants.

Ellis Island opened as a museum in 1990 and is open to the public every day of the year except for Christmas. The three story museum is organized for easy-to-follow self-guided tours, but scheduled tours with knowledgeable tour guides are also available. Guests are encouraged to take their time walking through the museum, absorbing as much about the Ellis Island immigration life and system as possible, as well as to stop by the American Family Immigration History Center, where individual immigrants can be searched and individual stories can be read. The "Wall of Honor" is located outside of the main building where immigrants are honored even further.

While admission to Ellis Island is free, the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (who are neighboring sites off the Manhattan Island) costs about $12 for adults and $5 for children under age 13.