Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

All clear. The managing agency, the National Weather Service and wildfire reporting show no current alerts.

Overview

Millions of Americans and people around the world have ancestors who came through Ellis Island. The Main Immigration Building was the epicenter of one of the greatest migrations in modern history. Today, Ellis Island is a memorial to all who pursued the American dream and have made this nation their adopted home.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Food
  • Dining
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Plan your visit

Hours

Park Hours: Access to Liberty and Ellis Islands is by Statue City Cruises ferry only. For ferry departure times and ticketing information, visit http://www.statuecitycruises.com or call 1-877-LADY-TIX. The last entrance into the statue is at 3:30 PM.

Getting there

Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor and can only be reached by ferry. Ferries are operated by Statue City Cruises and depart from The Battery in New York City or from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

Visitor centers

  • Ellis Island Information Desk

Weather

It is typically colder and more windy in New York Harbor than elsewhere in New York City. Winters are cold and damp. Spring and Fall can range from chilly to warm. Summers are warm to hot and humid.

Phone: 2123633200

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Great Hall has terra cotta-colored tile floor, a balcony, large arched windows, and vaulted ceiling
Ellis Island's Registry Room · NPS Photo
Brick and limestone building with maroon canopy leading to entrance.
Ellis Island Museum of Immigration · NPS Photo
Honey oak colored tall desk on tiled floor in Great Hall with arched windows and vaulted ceiling.
Replica Inspection Desk in the Registry Room · NPS Photo
Artificially-expanded largely rectangular island with straight seawalls and large buildings.
Bird's Eye View of Ellis Island · NPS Photo

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