Ellis Island National Monument

Ellis Island was incorporated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument on May 11, 1965. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million steerage and third class steamship passengers who entered the United States through the port of New York were legally and medically inspected at Ellis Island. Reopened on September 10, 1990 after a massive restoration, the Main Building on Ellis Island is now a museum dedicated to the history of immigration and the important role this island claimed during the mass migration of humanity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Statue of Liberty National Monument
Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004
(212)363-3200 - Visitor Information

By Plane
The New York City metropolitan area is served by three major airports: Newark International, LaGuardia, and JFK International.

By Car
Ellis Island is accessible by Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry, Inc. ferries only. One round trip ferry ticket includes visits to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Round trip ferry tickets cost $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and $6.00 for senior citizens. Ferries depart from Battery Park in New York City and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Battery Park is located at the Southern tip of Manhattan, off the West Side Highway South of FDR Drive South. Parking is very limited and expensive. Using public transportation is recommended. Please contact the ferry company at (212) 269-5755 for ferry schedules.

Liberty State Park in New Jersey is located off exit 14B of the New Jersey Turnpike. Please contact the ferry company at (201) 435-9499 for ferry schedules and parking information.

By Plane
There are a variety of ways to reach the Statue of Liberty ferry by public transportation. Please contact the MTA New York City Transit Authority at (718) 330-1234 or on the Web at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/for subway and bus directions to Battery Park. For information on reaching Liberty State Park in New Jersey via public transportation, contact New Jersey Transit at (800) 626-7433.

Temperatures in the New York City metropolitan area average 80-95 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Temperatures inside the statue itself can easily exceed 110 degrees in the summer. Visitors are advised to drink plenty of fluids and wear light clothing if they plan to visit during the summer months.

The spring and autumn in New York City are fairly mild with temperatures ranging from the mid 50s to mid 70s.

The temperature range in the winter months can be extreme. Visitors are advised to check local weather forecasts prior to their intended visits.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Educational Programs

Recommended Activities
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers a variety of exhibits and programs about the history of Ellis Island and the immigration process. Immigrants were processed in the "Main Building" at Ellis Island while the immigration station was open between 1892 and 1954. Today, the Main Building is a three floor museum, containing a variety of self-guided permanent exhibits.

The 30-minute documentary film "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" is shown in two theaters on a continuous basis. Ranger-guided tours are offered frequently. Programs for school groups are conducted by reservation only. Please call the reservations coordinator for more information at (212) 363-3200.

The museum includes a research library that contains materials related to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and immigration history. The Oral History Collection includes 2,000 taped and transcribed interviews of actual Ellis Island immigrants and staff.