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Ellis Island

Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, the station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers. The main building was restored after 30 years of abandonment and opened as a museum on September 10, 1990.

Today, over 40 percent of America's population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island.

Ellis Island is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. It was added to the National Park System in May of 1965 and through extensive restoration, its main building opened over a quarter century later on September 10, 1990 as a national museum of immigration. Ellis Island is federal property partly within the territorial jurisdiction of the both the States of New York and New Jersey.

The Statue of Liberty National Monument is one park that is comprised of Liberty Island (where the Statue is located) and Ellis Island, the historical federal immigration processing center.

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

American Family Immigration History Center (AFIHC) at Ellis Island. Official site for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Foundation containing manifests of 25 million immigrants, passengers, and crew members who entered New York Harbor between 1892 and 1924. Records can be searched at Ellis Island or on-line. 

Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island brochure. Map: Route of ferry system

The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on Ellis Island are located in Lower New York Harbor, slightly over one mile from Lower Manhattan. Liberty and Ellis Islands are accessible by ferry service only. Ferries are operated by Statue Cruises from New York and New Jersey. One round trip ferry ticket includes visits to both islands.

The docking of private vessels is strictly prohibited.

Ferry Service from New York: Purchase round-trip ferry tickets at Castle Clinton National Monument in Lower Manhattan. Ferries from New York operate on a loop, stopping first at Liberty Island and then at Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park, New York.

Battery Park by subway: take the 1 train to the South Ferry station, 4 or 5 train to the Bowling Green station or R/W train to the Whitehall Street station. Call the NYC Transit Authority for information at: 718 330-1234.

Battery Park, NY by bus: take the M15 (East Side) marked "South Ferry" or the M6 (West Side) from 57th Street.

Ferry Service from New Jersey: Purchase round trip ferry tickets at the Central Railroad Terminal Building and Museum in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ . Ferries from Liberty State Park operate on a loop, stopping first at Ellis Island and then at Liberty Island before returning to Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

Liberty State Park and Jersey City by bus: take the Central Avenue bus from platform A3 at the Journal Square Terminal in Jersey City to Liberty State Park.

Liberty State Park by Lightrail: The Hudson-Bergen Lightrail train provides service through the Jersey City, NJ area and has a station at Liberty State Park about 1 mile from the ferry location. For more information on schedules, fares, service etc. call: 1-800 772-2222 (TTY), 1-800 772-2287.

Newark Penn Station: Take the PATH subway to Exchange Place in Jersey City. Then take the Light Rail to Liberty State Park. From there, take the shuttle bus to the ferry slip.

Hoboken Train / PATH subway / Bus station: Take the Light Rail to Liberty State Park. From there, take the shuttle bus to the ferry slip.
Journal Square, Jersey City: Take the PATH subway to Exchange Place in Jersey City. Then take the Light Rail to Liberty State Park. From there, take the shuttle bus to the ferry slip.

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