One of the most popular NYC tourist attractions is the Statue of Liberty.
Many New Yorkers, like myself, have gone to Liberty Island and Ellis Island to explore our roots and of course to see up close the statue that from most vantage points seems quite small.
As a local tour guide with Tours by Foot NYC, I’ve talked to countless tour guests planning to visit Lady Liberty and I’m always ready to share everything I know from my experience.
In this post, I’ll go over planning a visit to see the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and afterward Ellis Island.
I include ticket options, including general tickets, pedestal tickets, and how to access the crown.
I will also provide details about what you can expect from your visit.
The first thing you need to know is that there is only one way to get to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: by ferries run by Statue Cruises.
Don't try to sail, canoe or kayak there. You can get close but there’s nowhere to dock!
Your ticket includes both islands. The ferries stop first at Liberty Island and then at Ellis Island.
TIP: Since the islands are separate stops, you can visit one island without the other.
The first time I went to the Statue of Liberty I also visited Ellis Island.
Because I had a lot of family tree research to do, I went back to Ellis Island on a different day and skipped Lady Liberty simply by not getting off at Liberty Island.
If you want to skip Ellis Island, you can. But I think it’s an amazing experience. You can read more below.
Still, I understand that people short on time may want to see just the Statue of Liberty.
WHERE TO GET THE FERRY
Ferries depart from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
For this post, I'll assume you are staying in Manhattan.
In this picture, you can see where you catch the ferry within Battery Park. The round structure is Castle Clinton, a historic landmark.
You can see where to check in if you have Reserved or Flex tickets and where you can pick up Will Call tickets and buy Same Day walk-up tickets.
These subways will get you to the Statue Cruises dock at Castle Clinton:
- 4 and 5 trains to Bowling Green
- 1 train to South Ferry
- N and R trains to Rector Street
- 2 and 3 trains to Wall Street
- J and Z trains to Broad Street
Click the map for a larger version
You can use this Google Map with directions to the Statue Cruises terminal.
If you are staying in New Jersey, use this map to get directions to the ferry dock in Jersey City.
I've written a lot above, but this video sums it up.
In it, my fellow tour guide Katie, here at Tours by Foot NYC, explains how to get to the ferry dock in Manhattan and then takes you on a tour of both islands.
FERRY TO LIBERTY ISLAND AND ELLIS ISLAND SCHEDULE
You've got a lot of departure options! Of course, you'll want to go based on the other activities you plan for that day.
But if you are traveling during peak tourist season, I highly recommend that you take the first ferry out.
This is to avoid crowds, though you can expect lots of people on the island at any hour in peak season.
Guided tours of the Statue of Liberty generally leave on the first ferry of the day to offer a better expereince.
I go over ticket options further down in the post.
From Manhattan
| DEPART BATTERY PARK | DEPART LIBERTY ISLAND | DEPART ELLIS ISLAND | ARRIVE BATTERY PARK |
| 9:00 AM | 9:25 AM | 9:40 AM | 9:50 AM |
| 9:20 AM | 9:45 AM | 10:15 AM | 10:40 AM |
| 9:45 AM | 10:10 AM | 10:30 AM | 10:40 AM |
| 10:10 AM | 10:35 AM | 10:55 AM | 11:05 AM |
| 10:35 AM | 11:00 AM | 11:20 AM | 11:30 AM |
| 11:00 AM | 11:25 AM | 11:45 AM | 11:55 PM |
| 11:25 AM | 11:50 AM | 12:10 PM | 12:20 PM |
| 11:50 AM | 12:15 PM | 12:35 PM | 12:45 PM |
| 12:15 PM | 12:40 PM | 1:00 PM | 1:10 PM |
| 12:40 PM | 1:05 PM | 1:25 PM | 1:35 PM |
| 1:05 PM | 1:30 PM | 1:50 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 1:30 PM | 1:55 PM | 2:15 PM | 2:25 PM |
| 1:55 PM | 2:20 PM | 2:40 PM | 2:50 PM |
| 2:20 PM | 2:45 PM | 3:05 PM | 3:15 PM |
| 2:45 PM | 3:10 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:40 PM |
| 3:10 PM | 3:35 PM | 3:55 PM | 4:05 PM |
| 3:30 PM | 4:00 PM | -- | 4:20 |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
Return To Manhattan
| DEPART BATTERY PARK | DEPART LIBERTY ISLAND | DEPART ELLIS ISLAND | ARRIVE BATTERY PARK |
| > | 4:25 PM | > | 4:40 PM |
| > | > | 4:40 PM | 4:50 PM |
| > | 5:00 PM | > | 5:15 PM |
| > | > | 5:15 PM | 5:25 PM |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
From New Jersey
| DEPART LIBERTY STATE PARK | DEPART ELLIS ISLAND | DEPART LIBERTY ISLAND | ARRIVE LIBERTY STATE PARK |
| 9:00 AM | 9:15 AM | 9:30 AM | 9:45 AM |
| 9:30 AM | 9:50 AM | 10:05 AM | 10:20 AM |
| 10:05 AM | 10:25 AM | 10:45 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 10:40 AM | 11:00 AM | 11:20 AM | 11:35 AM |
| 11:120AM | 11:40 AM | 12:00 PM | 12:15 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 12:20 PM | 12:40 PM | 12:55 PM |
| 12:40 PM | 1:00 PM | 1:20 PM | 1:35 PM |
| 1:20 PM | 1:40 PM | 2:00 PM | 2:15 PM |
| 2:00 PM | 2:20 PM | 2:40 PM | 2:55 PM |
| 2:45 PM | 3:05 PM | 3:25 PM | 3:40 PM |
| 3:30 PM | 3:45 PM | 4:05 PM | 4:20 PM |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
Return Trip to New Jersey
| DEPART LIBERTY STATE PARK | DEPART ELLIS ISLAND | DEPART LIBERTY ISLAND | ARRIVE LIBERTY STATE PARK |
| > | 4:15 PM | 4:40 PM | 4:55 PM |
| > | > | 5: 00 PM | > |
| > | 5:15 PM | > | 5:25 PM |
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Here are a few things to know and some advice to help you plan your visit.
Passing through security
Once you check in with your tickets, you'll join the security line just outside of Castle Clinton. (See image above).
The security process is similar to airport security and generally takes about 30 minutes. But, it certainly can take longer in peak season.
Once you pass through security, you will join another line to board the next available ferry.
Don't wait until the last minute to show up like I did once. Though I was able to get on the next ferry, it was not the time I had planned on.
NOTE: If you have pedestal or crown tickets, you'll have another security check. See these additional security requirements here.
Prohibited items on both the islands and the ferries
These are just a few items you cannot bring with you. See the entire, long list here.
- All weapons, including firearms, any dangerous items, and any "dual-use" items that could be dangerous
- Scissors, sharp instruments, and tools
- Large packages, suitcases, carry-on luggage, and other large parcels
- Face masks and/or costumes that are designed to conceal the identity of a person
If you show up with a prohibited item, it will be taken and you won't get it back!
It's so important to bear in mind that there are no storage facilities at both the New York and New Jersey ferries.
Anything you have with you that is not allowed can be stored at secure luggage storage facilities nearby.
If you have never used such a service, I can vouch for them.
When I have traveled to other countries, I've stored items with different companies and never had a problem.
NOTE: If you have pedestal or crown tickets, there are lockers on Liberty Island for items that are not allowed into both.
How Much Time Will You Need
This depends on a few factors. Most importantly, you should think about how much time you want to spend on the islands.
How long do you want to spend on Liberty Island taking pictures and walking around?
If you have pedestal or crown tickets, you’ll need more time.
Also, do you have other activities planned for the day?
Having done both a quick trip and a long visit, I think you should do some research on how you want to spend your time on your excursion.
Once you have a sense of how much time you want to devote to your visit, then you can figure out which ferry to take.
The longer you want to spend at Liberty Island and Ellis Island, the earlier ferry you need to be on.
The first ferry departs Manhattan at 8:30 am in the high season and 9:00 am in the low season.
As you can see in the Google Popular Times image below, crowds are significantly smaller in the early morning hours.
The ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island depart every 15 to 20 minutes so there’s always a ferry to get on.
When you buy your ticket, the time you choose isn't for a specific ferry departure, it’s the time to join the security screening line.
Whatever time you pick, get there even earlier!
On one of my visits, I showed up earlier than the time on my ticket and because not many people were there I was able to get on a ferry earlier than I had planned!
If you just want a quick close-up view of the statue, you can take a later ferry.
The last ferry from Manhattan departs at 4:00 pm in the high season and 3:30 pm in the low season.
Since the last ferry back to Manhattan departs Liberty Island at 5:45 p.m. in the high season (5:00 p.m. in the low season), I can't imagine you would want to head out so late in the day.
Suggested time frames
These suggested time frames include the security line, the ferry there and back, and enough time to explore both islands without rushing.
- General admission ticket - 4 to 5 hours
- Pedestal or crown tickets - 5 to 6 hours
In peak season, give yourself more time since more people will be heading out and wait times will be longer.
Pedestal or crown ticket holders must check-in at the ticket office Will Call window.
However, General Admision tickets can be printed OR you can use a digital ticket on your mobile device.
If you don’t have a mobile device, you can either print your ticket or pick it up at the Will Call booth on the day of your visit.
Print your ticket in advance. Don’t waste time on the Will Call line.
TIP: If you prefer the digital option, take screenshots of your tickets. I wish I had done this because the cell phone service on both islands is spotty.
WHERE TO EAT
Should you get hungry during your visit, you have a few options.
Note that no food and drink is allowed inside the Statue of Liberty (crown and pedestal).
However, you can store both in lockers on Liberty Island.
Crown Café
Crown Café is on Liberty Island. The menu has pizza, burgers, sandwiches and salads. See the menu.
The outside of the cafe is very pretty and has a view of the water as you can see in the picture above.
The food is eh and I wish the prices were lower, but the portion size is decent.
There is also the Ellis Café on Ellis Island.
Both cafes are run by the same vendor so the menu is identical.
Ferry Snack Bars
All ferries have snack bars but don't expect anything special.
Still, you can satisfy hunger pangs if you can't wait to get to the island or get back to Manhattan after your time on the island.
Bring Your Own Food
I am a BYOF kind of person when I travel. I'd rather spend my money on attractions than on mediocre food.
Buy some food before you head out to the islands. I like to make cheese sandwiches even if I am in a hotel.
Bread and cheese are cheap and filling. Peanut Butter and Jelly is another go-to.
You can't bring a cooler and your food must be sealed to enter the screening facility.
There are spots all over the island to eat so enjoy the free views!
Food near the Manhattan Ferry Dock
Here are some places to get food before you go on the ferry.
They are all within a few blocks of Battery Park.
- Subway - 11 Broadway
- Liberty Bagels - 32 Broadway
- Starbucks - One Battery Park Plaza
- Chipotle - 2 Broadway
- Burger King - 16 Beaver St.
Here's a map of these stores.
TICKETS FOR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
Technically, there is no cost to visit Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty is located or Ellis Island.
What you are paying for is the ferry passage to the islands and back and, if you choose, access to the statue's pedestal or crown.
All ticket types include audio tours and park ranger talks on both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
Reserve vs. Flex Tickets
The first thing to consider is whether you want or need a reserve or flex ticket.
A reserve ticket is for a specified time on a specified day.
Reserve ticket holders get to enter the security line and board the ferries at that specified time.
Reserve tickets are available for general admission and are the only type of ticket available for pedestal or crown access.
They can be purchased in advance on the Statue Cruises website or purchased on-site (subject to availability).
If they are sold out or your preferred time isn't available there, you can also get reserved tickets for both general admission and a pedestal from Get Your Guide.
One advantage of a reserved ticket is that reserved ticket holders are given priority access to the security screening and ferries.
But the disadvantage is you are set to a particular time and thus reduces flexibility.
Flex tickets
This option is available for general admission tickets only so no access to the Statue of Liberty's pedestal or crown.
Flex tickets allow you to come whenever the ferries are running within a certain time frame.
Statue Cruises does not sell flex tickets. Flex tickets are only available as a part of tourist passes and bus company combo tickets.
The clear advantage of a flex-ticket is flexibility. You don't need your travel itinerary set in stone.
The main disadvantage is that you do not get priority access to the security and ferry lines and you first have to go to the ticket office to get your ticket.
This could add an hour or more to your time spent here during peak times, so be sure to come as early as you can to avoid the crowds.
Refunds are given for cancellations with at least 24 hours notice if you purchase through Statue Cruises. Third-party vendors each have their own rules.
** Reserve-only tickets are included for free with the purchase of the Sightseeing Pass, City Pass, New York Pass, and Explorer Pass.
Be sure to read our post which compares the different tourist passes.**
General Admission, Pedestal Access, and Crown Tickets
The next thing to consider is what type of access you want. There are 3 options: general admission, pedestal access and crown access.
Note that all three types of tickets include entrance to the fantastic new Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019.
General Admission
This is the most common ticket. It grants you access to Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and Ellis Island.
It does not include access to the Statue of Liberty's pedestal or crown.
There are reserve as well as 'flex' tickets available for general admission.
- $25 - Adult
- $22 - Senior 62+
- $16 - Child 4-12
- Free - Child under 4
- $22 - Military members
- Purchase reserve tickets here.
You could also book reserve tickets through Get Your Guide. This is a great option for when morning tickets on your day of choice are sold out.
For an extra $6 a ticket, you will also get onsite concierge service to guide you when you arrive at Battery Park, a service that some seem to like based on the reviews.
General admission flex tickets can be reserved through Get Your Guide.
** General admission flex tickets are included for free with the purchase of the Sightseeing Pass, City Pass, New York Pass, and Explorer Pass.
Be sure to read our post which compares the different tourist passes.
The same goes for bus company combination tickets.
Pedestal Access
This ticket includes everything that you get with a general admission ticket and includes access to the Fort Wood section of the pedestal.
Plus you get priority entry to the security screening line, which is a great perk.
Pedestal access tickets are not available as flex tickets so you have to choose a specific time.
Ticket Prices
- $25.30 - Adult
- $22.30 - Senior 62+
- $16.30 - Child 4-12
- Free - Child under 4
- $22.30 - Military members
I recommend you buy pedestal tickets in advance. A very limited number of passes may be available at the ticket offices early in the morning, but you shouldn't rely on this.
For an extra $6 a ticket, you will also get onsite concierge service to guide you upon arrival at Battery Park, a service that some seem to like based on the reviews.
If you take a guided tour, pedestal tickets are guaranteed.
Crown Access
Includes everything mentioned above with the addition of crown access.
Tickets to access the crown must be purchased in advance tickets can be sold out months in advance.
Plus there are several restrictions and conditions when purchasing crown tickets.
Read below or visit the National Park Service's webpage to learn about the restrictions on ticket purchase and access to the crown.
Ticket prices
- $30.50 - Adult
- $24 - Senior 62+
- $18 - Child 4-12
- Free - Child under 4
A few of the restrictions:
- Only four tickets per household (or cardholder) per order.
- Names on the tickets are non-transferable at any time.
- The credit cardholder must be present to pick up tickets.
- Children under 42” are restricted from access to the crown.
- Only one reservation is allowed per person during any 6-month period.
Read all the restrictions here before purchasing your tickets.
We also have a post detailing the 7 ways to buy Statue of Liberty tickets.
STATUE OF LIBERTY PEDESTAL TICKETS
The actual pedestal that was designed for the Statue is an amazing design feature.
Designed specifically to show off Lady Liberty herself, it is approximately half the size of the statue.
From the pedestal level, you'll have some incredible views of Ellis Island, New York, New Jersey, and the New York Harbor altogether.
While the visit to the pedestal is free, advanced reservations are strongly suggested.
There are a limited number of people that will have access to the pedestal at any given time so if you don't make reservations ahead of time you may not be granted access.
(Guided tours include guaranteed pedestal access).
View from Statue of Liberty Pedestal
Ticket Prices
- $25.30 - Adult
- $22.30 - Senior 62+
- $16.30 - Child 4-12
- Free - Child under 4
- $22.30 - Military members
- Purchase advanced pedestal tickets here.
You could also book through Get Your Guide.
For an extra $6/ticket, you will also get onsite concierge service to guide you upon arrival at Battery Park, a service that some seem to like based on the reviews.
If you take a guided tour, pedestal tickets are guaranteed.
The National Park Service does have some access restrictions:
- No food, drinks, or backpacks are permitted.
- No strollers.
- No long umbrellas.
- Lockers are available to store bags and other belongings for an additional $2 per locker.
- Visit the National Park Service's website to read all the restrictions for access to the pedestal.
Read our in-depth post on pedestal tickets.
STATUE OF LIBERTY CROWN TICKETS
Going up to the crown is a pretty amazing experience. Of course, you'll get incredible panoramic views of the New York City skyline and a bit of Brooklyn.
What I thought was a very cool part of going to the crown is that you see up close the intricate architectural features of the statue.
This made me appreciate even more than I did the ingenious design by Gustave Eiffel.
So, there are a few things to know if you want to go to the crown.
First, these tickets are harder to get than others. Book way in advance!
If they are sold out, it can't hurt to call Statue Cruises at 1-877-523-9849.
Next, you get just 10 minutes in the crown. I was fine with this, but I don't want you to be surprised and disappointed.
Lastly, there is no elevator. But there are a whole lot of stairs.
The walk from the top of the pedestal to the crown is equivalent to climbing 22 flights of stairs (that's 162 narrow steps in a tight spiral staircase) and 377 steps from the main lobby.
You need to take a long hard look at your fitness before buying a crown ticket.
I am reasonably fit but I did find myself out of breath a bit and those last few flights were tough.
But I made it and it was worth the hike -- even for just 10 minutes.
View from the Statue of Liberty Crown
The crown does have access restrictions. Below are most, but see the website for a complete list.
- Adults must show a photo ID.
- Lockers are available to store bags and other belongings.
- Only 1 camera per person is permitted into the crown.
- Children must be at least 4' (1.2 m) tall.
In 2019, the new Statue of Liberty museum opened on Liberty Island. All tickets include access to it.
I've been to both the old and the new, and wow, what a difference!
The new museum cost over $100 million to construct and is a lot larger than the old, at nearly 26,000 square feet (2,415 square meters).
What You Will See
When you enter, you pass through a space that is dedicated to donors who contributed $2 million or more.
After that, you enter the Immersive Theater, a seatless theater where you can wander while a 10-minute film plays on a loop.
The film is about the Statue of Liberty’s construction and also its status as a symbol of hope and freedom.
Plus, you go on a virtual fly-through inside the statue.
Next is the Engagement Gallery which brings to life the 19th-century Parisian workshop of the statue’s sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
I absolutely loved this. There are recreations of his models for the statue as well as a scale-size replica of the statue’s copper foot.
Then there is the Inspiration Gallery which has digital kiosks where visitors can take photo self-portraits with backdrops of images that symbolize liberty to them.
These photos are added to a growing collage of inspirational images to an ever-growing digital experience called Becoming Liberty.
The last space you pass through holds an especially beautiful object, the original 3,600-pound copper flame that sat atop the torch which was replaced in 1984.
The museum has a roof deck with sweeping views of New York City and the harbor. Having brought my own lunch, I enjoyed my meal on the roof.
Because the museum is a distance from the statue, you also have a great view of the back of the statue.
The Ellis Island ferry is the same as the Statue of Liberty ferry.
The ferry stops first at Liberty Island where the statue is and then Ellis Island.
Nearly everyone gets off the ferry at Liberty Island and then goes to Ellis Island.
Some people skip Ellis Island, which I think is a mistake.
It's rarer for people to skip Liberty Island and go directly to Ellis Island. These are usually second-time visitors or those who want only to research family immigration history.
If you do go directly to Ellis Island the ferry ride from Manhattan ( including the time it takes for people to get on and off at Liberty Island) is approximately 30 minutes.
Below is a self-guided Ellis Island tour I created to give you an idea of what to expect.
There's a special Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour that lasts 90 minutes and takes you through several buildings and the hospital grounds.
I haven't taken it yet, but I have heard from guests on my NYC walking tours that it is amazing!
See below for more information.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR
As you disembark the ferry, try to imagine what it must have been like for the immigrants who traveled thousands of miles to get here from their country of origin.
Their ocean voyage lasted between one and two weeks on ships with as many as 3,000 people on board.
Most of the passengers were in third class (steerage), a large area at the ship's bottom.
This was my grandparents' experience when they emigrated to America in the late 1800s.
Before going to Ellis Island I used the official Passenger and Ship search feature where you can look up your family's history if they passed through the island.
Read more about the Family History Center.
When you enter the main building you will be in the massive baggage room, where newly arriving immigrants were directed and given identity tags.
Once you pass the entry doors, there are displays of old luggage in the middle area of the room which give you a feeling for the experience immigrants went through.
Straight ahead is the Peopling of America Exhibit and the World Migration Globe.
Also located on the first floor are the gift shops and the Ellis Island Cafe (which is located in the same spot as the original cafeteria.)
There is an outdoor cafe for nice days and a theater showing a 30-minute film titled "Island of Hope, Island of Tears".
From the first floor, you can leave the building to access the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
Here's a Google Street View of the wall, and as you can see, the view is breathtaking!
You can also access the Wall of Honor by walking around the island from the point of ferry arrival.
World Migration Globe
You'll definitely want to get a closer look at this globe. The graphics and colors change as it shares information on immigration to America.
On either side of the Globe are introductory exhibits about the history of immigration to America dating back to the 1500s.
EXHIBITS
Journeys: The Peopling of America
The first part of this exhibit focuses on the history of immigration to America from 1550-1890, just before Ellis Island opened.
Definitely take your time exploring the fascinating displays and accounts of how people arrived here, some by choice and some involuntarily.
You'll get a sense of how so many diverse groups of people populated the land that would become America.
The second part focuses on immigration from 1954 (just after the Ellis Island processing center closed) through today.
Through first-hand accounts and a variety of media, this exhibit will give you a close-up look at the most recent history of immigration to America.
From here, you can visit the Citizenship Gallery and learn about the process of becoming an American citizen.
The Great Hall and Registration Room
Walk or take the elevator up to the second floor. Now you will enter the beautiful Great Hall.
The entire room has been restored to its 1918-1924 condition.
Just take a moment and try to put yourselves in the shoes of the immigrants who took those same stairs from the baggage room and arrived right here.
Imagine the crowds of over 5,000 people a day, every day, for decades. Imagine the noise, the smells, and all the activity.
Here, legal and medical examinations of the immigrants took place. The process was often frightening for the new arrivals.
The average processing time was three to four hours, but for the unfortunate, it could mean a much longer ordeal and could even lead to deportation.
The Great Hall presented immigrants with a complicated labyrinth of bureaucracy in a language they didn't understand.
Here the immigrants were asked 29 questions including name, occupation, and how much money they had on them.
The room itself is quite remarkable. Look up and admire the grand Gustavino tiled ceiling (28,880 tiles).
If you aren't familiar with Gustavino tiles, you can read about them here. They are the gorgeous creation of the Gustavino family which emigrated from Spain in 1881 (though not through Ellis Island).
It replaced the former ceiling after shock waves from a nearby explosion in 1916 (during World War I) in which a thousand tons of munitions, intended for France and England, were detonated by German agents.
Amazingly, only 17 tiles were replaced in the 1990 restoration. The remaining 28,863 date back to 1916.
Stairs of Separation
After the registry room, the next step for immigrants was the stairs of separation.
The stairs had three areas: one for immigrants destined for New Jersey, one for those headed to New York, and the third for those who were detained.
This was a joy for some and a sorrow for others. Most families would be brought together but others would learn that their loved ones had been detained.
If they did not pass the legal screening, they would be held in the dormitories until they were able to prove that they were legally eligible to enter the country.
There was also a medical screening. If the immigrants did not pass the medical screening, they were sent to Ellis Island Hospital until they were healthy enough to be admitted.
The area has been off-limits to the public since it closed but private group hard-hat tours are available.
Read about how to take a Hospital Tour below.
Through America's Gate
This exhibit is located in the west wing of the second floor.
It demonstrates how immigrants were processed on Ellis Island, including how the 'undesirables'(criminals, anarchists, the disabled) were screened out.
It also shows how some immigrants were permitted entry after five hours, and how an unfortunate few were not allowed in.
Here you'll find fascinating rooms like witness waiting rooms, and detention areas.
You'll also see the Hearing Room. Any newly arriving immigrant who was suspected of being a public charge or having links to certain political groups was brought before the Board of Special Inquiry.
As many as 100 hearings were held daily. Approximately 20% of the immigrants who went through this process were denied entry into America.
In the East Wing, you'll find an exhibit that concentrates on United States immigration from 1880-1924.
In these 44 years, over 25 million people entered the United States.
During this period, more people migrated around the globe than at any point in history.
Though many migrated to other areas around the world, the United States was the most popular destination.
On the third floor, on the balcony which overlooks the registry room, you'll find a recreated dormitory room.
In the first eight years of the 20th century, two very long and narrow rooms, on opposite sides of the balcony, served as dormitories and could hold up to 300 people.
In 1908, the rooms were subdivided into smaller rooms, such as the recreated one on display.
The average stay of detainees was one night. Men and women slept separately.
In the East Wing on the third floor is the Ellis Island Chronicles.
Here you'll learn all about how Ellis Island grew from a mere 3.3 acres to 27 acres (or 11 hectares) and became the nation's central immigration port for several decades.
Also in the East Wing on the 3rd floor, Treasures From Home is a collection of artifacts donated by families of immigrants who traveled through Ellis Island during peak immigration years.
The third floor also features Silent Voices, an exhibit that portrays through photographs and other objects the abandoned state of Ellis Island after it was shut down in 1954 and before restoration began in the 1980s.
Additionally, you'll find Restoring a Landmark on the third floor, which recounts the incredible restoration of Ellis Island.
You can also see the Bob Hope Memorial Research Library.
Bob Hope was a famous comedian who immigrated through Ellis Island with his family on March 30, 1908.
The library features books, periodicals, photographs, films, and many other research tools.
Though you will not be able to borrow an item, a staff member is there to assist you.
If you have time before the next ferry departs, feel free to do some more exploring, check out a film, research family archives, browse in the gift shop or bookstore, or just relax in the cafe!
ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL AND HARD HAT TOURS
These guided 90-minute tours visit select areas of the unrestored Ellis Island Hospital.
Guests must wear hard hats for safety.
Find out about these tours here.
About the Ellis Island Hospital
The Ellis Island immigrant hospital was the first public health hospital in the United States.
It held new arrivals who were thought unfit to enter the country.
Operating from 1902 until 1930, the Ellis Island Hospital complex was a state-of-the-art medical facility that was the last line of defense for the United States of America against contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, cholera, trachoma, diphtheria and countless other ailments.
The 29 buildings included a contagious disease ward, laundry room, doctor's quarters, an autopsy theater, a kitchen, a power plant, dormitories, operating rooms, and a crematorium.
Approximately 3,500 people perished while detained at the hospital and roughly 350 babies were born here.
If you can't make the tour, you can watch a 55-minute documentary on the hospital titled "Forgotten Ellis Island".
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