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Location
Visitor tip
Start with the 30-minute introductory movie at the information desk to orient yourself before exploring the museum, then head upstairs to view the Great Hall and exhibits from above for the best perspective of the space.
Visitor tip
Visit the Family History Center to search the Arrival Records Collection and trace your own family's immigration history—a deeply personal experience that adds emotional resonance to the visit.
Visitor tip
Remember to leave time to enjoy the ferry ride itself from Battery Park, which offers spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline—an integral part of the Ellis Island experience.
About Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
Exhibits on US immigration history. Artifacts & passenger records tell the story of US immigration in a former processing station.
Quick Facts
- Type
- National Museum of Immigration
- Historical Significance
- Ellis Island processed over 1 million immigrants in 1907, the busiest year
- Key Exhibit
- Registry Room (Great Hall), American Immigrant Wall of Honor
- Notable Fact
- Only 2% of arriving immigrants were excluded from entry
- Membership
- Membership programs available
What visitors say
First time I’ve ever visited the island! They are remodeling some areas inside, but it’s only going to make it better. I highly recommend the 30 minute movie to start stop by the information desk and let one of the volunteers direct…
We had this included in our walking tour of Wall Street ticket. I had been here about eleven years ago and remembered it very differently. I felt sure there was a staircase that immigrants had to walk up and were being watched to assess…
One of the most fascinating and historically significant locations in the US is the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. This museum, which is only a short ferry journey from both New York and New Jersey, masterfully captures…
From 6,447 Google reviews
Did You Know?
- Ellis Island processed millions of immigrants through its Great Hall, which features lofty ceilings and reverberating acoustics that transport visitors back to the early 1900s when families waited in line for admission and inspection
- Despite its reputation as the 'Island of Tears,' historical records show that the vast majority of immigrants with proper documentation and good health were processed in just 3-5 hours and treated with courtesy and respect
- Ellis Island employed interpreters of all major languages during its peak immigration processing period, enabling communication with immigrants from diverse linguistic backgrounds
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