lauren

Now that you mentioned the statue of liberty i started a thread for ellis island because of its notorious importance to nyc. Ellis Island is a symbol of America’s immigrant heritage. From 1892 to 1954, this immigrant depot processed the greatest tide of incoming humanity in the nation’s history. Nearly twelve million landed here in their search of freedom of speech and religion, and for economic opportunity.

Under management of the National Park Service, the monument has been preserved for generations to come. The National Park Service and concessionaire ARAMARK work to provide everything you need.

bigapple

Its amazing that almost half of all Americans can trace their roots through the doors of Ellis Island. I saw this statistic somewhere and just never forgot about that. Its somewhat amazing if you think about it. A little tiny island off the coast of Manhattan is where ABOUT half of the American population can trace ancestry.

PaullyInNYC

What is there to even see when your inside of the building there on Ellis Island. Are there artifacts or what...whats it like inside is what im trying to ask?

bigapple

yes, there are artifcats ... its actually located in a beautiful restored Beaux-Arts-style building, where the immigrants were processed and examined before being given permission to enter the country. There are exhibits, artifcats, documents, and oral histories about Ellis Island and the immigration experience, plus many resources for tracing your genealogy. You can browse through the immigration records at the American Family Immigration history center, and then outside there is a wall of honor, which has the names of more then 600,000 courageous immigrants.

I believe Ellis Island is open daily except on Christmas Day. Admission if I remember correctly is FREE and is accessible with the same ferry that takes you to the statue of liberty.