Ellis Island Immigration Museum

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Battery Park and Liberty Island
New York, NY 10017

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(212) 883-1986
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Reviews
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Best

We toured Ellis Island in January, so we did not get a good sense of how crowded it must have been when it was a processing facility for immigrants. However, it took just the sma...

Worst

Lines are horrendous. Takes forever to get out to the island. You'll freeze your ass off while you are there. Skip this and buy a book. There is hardly anyhting to see in that...

Editorial review from Citysearch 7/1/2013

Wow! What a moving experience! Anyone who has ancestors who came through Ellis Island should visit here. take the free guided tour at the information desk, for 45 mins. Don't miss this museum! more
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Lot of Effort for a Disappointing Attraction 4/24/2011

Even if your family didn’t come through Ellis Island, it’s neat to see the place where so many people arrived. That said, a lot of folks won’t think it’s neat enough to spend half a day when they’ve got limited time in New York. The museum takes a really schmaltzy approach to how hard the immigrants had it and how dramatic it was for them, but it doesn’t really change the fact that nothing that took place on Ellis Island was all that exciting. It was just a big processing center for the government bureaucracy. Worth it if you view this as Holy Ground because your family came through. Not worth it for others. more
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In a word (okay, several): AMAZING. Thought-provoking. Heart-wrenching. 2/9/2009

We toured Ellis Island in January, so we did not get a good sense of how crowded it must have been when it was a processing facility for immigrants. However, it took just the smallest bit of imagination to put you right back there, in the thick of it. \r \r There was an amazing amount of forethought that went into the space itself, such as being able to view the intake stairs going up from four sides to evaluate immigrants as patients on the fly. This and many other details just blew my mind when we toured the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. I would love to see it again soon, and perhaps sit down at their computers this time to research my family. more
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fascinating museum, with a boat ride too! 3/15/2007

this is a great museum to go to on a spring day because of the boat ride to Ellis Island. The tour really helped me imagine how my great-grandparents must have felt as they came in. The exhibits, including audio clips from immigrants, are fascinating. It's a full day's worth of entertainment and learning. Pros: great museum, interesting piece of history, boat ride more
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Enchanting Experience 10/13/2005

Take your time to wander about the majestic hall of this beautifully restored building. Share in the footsteps of past relatives and feel the sense of accomplishment they felt from just entering the glorious doors. People always say that history is an important lesson of the past but this museum allows you to reach out and touch a part of history that many people (within their own families) can relate to. more
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Very moving 9/2/2003

Although I'm not an American citizen (Canadian actually) I still found the Museum facinating. I highly recommend taking the free guided tour. Give youself at least 2-3 hours to see all the exhibits, or you'll surely miss out on something. I'd recommend you also see Ellis Island before you visit Liberty Island, as you will need plenty of time to take it all in. Pros: Free guided Tour more
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A wonderful experience! 3/11/2003

When I walked through the whole place, I could feel all the emotions that had went on in there. It is so cool to go outside and look at the immigrants that came to America and to find the immigrants having the same last name as you. I went on a band trip during spring break in 2002. It is a good place to go if you like history. Pros: Inexpensive, Good parking, Not crowded more
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You must be joking 12/25/2002

Lines are horrendous. Takes forever to get out to the island. You'll freeze your ass off while you are there. Skip this and buy a book. There is hardly anyhting to see in that museum except photos. Cons: cold, boring, time consuming more
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the gateway to a new begining 10/3/2002

absolutely takes your breath away, puts you in the shoes of the immigrants taht made our country is what it is today.An awesome and humbling experience. Pros: outstanding exhibits, beautiful view, great giftshop more
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very engaging for all ages 8/9/2002

Touching, educational look at the roots of many of us from New York, and America. more
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Thank you, Grandma... 7/28/2002

Wow! What a moving experience! Anyone who has ancestors who came through Ellis Island should visit here. I highly recommend taking the free guided tour (report to the information desk). It lasts about 45 mins. and added immeasurably to the trip. Our guide treated us as if we were immigrants and brought us to various parts of the building, making sure we were aware that our ancestors followed that very route. It was very moving to me to trace the steps of my beloved grandmother. The exhibits are fascinating and you can eat off the floors. One caveat, though: bring a sweater--the temperature in the building was so low, you could have hung meat!! Don't miss this museum! Pros: Deeply moving Cons: Ill-advised, placement of, research computers. more
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Great spot to take visitors 7/24/2002

Having visitors from out of town gives you a great oppotunity to visit Ellis Island. You get the trip to Battery Park by whatever method of transportation, some time in Battery Park, the boat trip out to Ellis Island, and then the museum itself. Ellis Island can appeal to nearly all visitors with all the photos of the immigrants and the artifacts. Also you get great views back at the city and of the Statue of Liberty. Pros: artifacts & photos, boat ride, view more
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The films are well worth the trip 7/23/2002

My mother and I went to Ellis Island after a trip to the Statue of Liberty. We should have gone there first! Take the time to sit down for their ""orientation"" movie. It provides you with the historic background of the building and a description of what took place in which part of the building. It was wonderful. I can't wait to go back. Pros: Historic, Easy to reach, Meaningful more
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Moving Experience 7/20/2002

Imagine walking through the doors that thousands walked through to enter our country. I also think of those who didn't make it from the Titanic. I loved sitting in the main big room and imaging the emotions of people that wanted to live in the United States. Makes me very proud to be an AMERICAN! Bring your camera and go early in the morning. Went on Thanksgiving Weekend 98 and it was more special. more
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Great for the Family 5/24/2002

Great for a sunny day, best to avoid the crowds therefore go earlier. Bring the Family, make them aware of the early NY history...especially the immigration history. Lots to do hands on. Great museum. more
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Editorial

  • Overview
    Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants queued up on Ellis Island for the chance to set foot on U.S. soil. Their passage through New York harbor is now...

  • 12/13/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Daily 9:30am-5pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Financial District, Financial District (Wall Street), Downtown
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