Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Heritage in Downstate New York, New York, United States

• Best months: January–December
• Typical duration: 5h
• Elevation gain: 0 m

Access & fees

• crown and pedestal access at the statue of liberty require separate reservations.
• ferry only access (departure: The Battery, NYC)
• ferry ticket required (booking: purchase in advance)
• visitors pay only for the authorized ferry ticket, which includes access to both ellis island and the statue of liberty grounds.

Things to do

• explore the historic great hall (registry room)
• guided hospital tours (area: south side)
• immigration museum visit (area: north side)
• photography
• search family records at the american family immigration history center
• take an audio-guided tour
• tour the national museum of immigration
• view interactive exhibits and original artifacts
• visit the outdoor memorials and waterfront

Features

• ellis island immigrant hospital (location: south side of island)
• national immigration museum (location: north side of island)
• registry room (great hall) — main inspection hall for arriving immigrants
• the island is part of the statue of liberty national monument, a unesco world heritage site. while the statue of liberty is the unesco-designated property, ellis island is included within the national monument managed by the u.s. national park service.
• wall of honor (location: northern section)

Nearby

• liberty state park (direction: west of island)
• statue of liberty (relation: same national monument)

Good to know

• allow 3–5 hours if visiting both ellis island and the statue of liberty.
• combine your visit with the statue of liberty national monument
• island area 27.5 acres (reclamation: majority landfill, late 1890s–1930s)
• nps-administered since 1965 (managing agency: National Park Service)
• reserve ferry tickets in advance, especially during summer and holidays.
• some exhibits temporarily closed (reason: Ellis Island Reimagined Project renovation)