Visiting New York City’s Ellis Island

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New York City’s Ellis Island once served as the gateway to the United States for millions of immigrants. Researchers say, in fact, that more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954 as they entered the United States.

Ellis Island today has a new purpose. It is now one of the top tourist attractions in New York City. Ellis Island now welcomes tourists to a popular museum that provides comprehensive information about what the many immigrants who passed through the island experienced on their journey to becoming U.S. citizens.

Tourists can easily spend a complete day, or more, at Ellis Island. A good place to start exploring is with the Ellis Island museum’s well-regarded documentary film “Island of Hope, Island of Tears.”

The film provides viewers with an in-depth look at what it was like to pass through Ellis Island as an immigrant. Screenings are held at a variety of times during the day, with each showing running 30 minutes.

Those interested in getting a deeper lesson on Ellis Island history can take a guided island tour led by one of the attraction’s many well-educated rangers. These tours, which last about 45 minutes, are no cost. They provide visitors with valuable information that they won’t get anywhere else on the island.

Guests can also pay $8 for an interesting one-hour audio tour. This tour fills guests in on many lesser known historical facts regarding Ellis Island.

Children can also have a good time at Ellis Island. For instance, they can become honorary Ellis Island Junior Rangers by completing the many activities and tasks in a free guidebook. Parents can find this guidebook online before they visit the island or onsite at Ellis Island’s main information booth.

Visitors interested in learning about their own family history can stop by the American Family Immigration History Center. They can also attend one of the genealogy workshops held from March through October on the island. Presented by the National Archives, the workshops give visitors advice on how they can best trace the history of their own immigrant ancestors.

Visitors in need of a break can hold a picnic lunch on the island. Those who’d prefer to purchase their lunch will find no shortage of concession stands on the island.

Admission to the Ellis Island museum is free. Getting to the island, though, requires paying a ferry ticket. Visitors should check the cost for these round-trip tickets online before stopping by the island.

Ellis Island has earned its reputation as a must-see stop for visitors to New York City. Tourists should make sure that they have carved out some time to visit this historic American site.