Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

                                                                                         

One of the most famous and recognizable things about New York City is, of course, the Statue of Liberty. The Lady Liberty has served as a symbol of freedom and a world of opportunity for many immigrants coming to the United
States. Before they could visit the statue, however, they had to pass through Ellis Island. Both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have become historic places to see while visiting New York.

The Statue of Liberty was given to the U.S. as a present from the French on July 4, 1884. It was to symbolize the good relations and friendship between the two countries. It weighs 225 tons and is over 150 feet tall. Today, the statue stands as a symbol of New York. Visitors to the statue can take ranger-led tours around the promenade of the statue, or explore on their own. Right inside the entrance, they will see the original torch, which was replaced at the statue's centennial in 1986. The statue features fascinating exhibits on its 10th floor observatory. Also from this
location, visitors can look up through a glass ceiling and see inside the copper-clad, steel skeleton of the statue. Getting to the Statue of Liberty takes getting on a ferry, which is more enjoyable for some than the statue itself. After visiting the statue, tourists can also stroll around Liberty Island, taking in views of the harbor. However, tours are not yet available to the top of the Statue at this time.

After visiting Lady Liberty, tourists can take the same ferry and get off at the Ellis Island stop. Here, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum tells the stories of the thousands of immigrants that passed through its walls. The museum features several excellent exhibits as well as other informative video and audio tapes. First, visitors can see the dormitories where immigrants stayed and the medical examination rooms which was located upstairs. The Treasures from Home collection is an exhibit where family heirlooms brought to the United States are on display. These items bring history to life for many visitors. The Peopling of America exhibit has a life-size "family tree" as well as a 3-D bar graph which shows the immigration patterns for the United States over the years. The Registry Hall is especially sentimental, as it is the room where countless immigrants waited in hours and hours of lines to be interviewed by immigration officials. There is also the large registry book where every person passing through Ellis Island was required to write their name. Outside, the museum boasts the Wall of Honor. Here, over 420,000 immigrants' names that are inscribed in steel. The names have been put there by family members today to honor the courage of their ancestors. As visitors tour this museum, they can pick up headsets which play an audio tape narrating the different parts of the museum. There is also the documentary, Island of Hope and the Island of Tears, playing continuously throughout the day. Visitors will find the museum interesting no matter what, but some are lucky enough to know of a relative who may have passed through Ellis Island, making the trip especially meaningful. Ellis Island is a great place to take kids, as it is educational and entertaining.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are two of the most historically rich, and definitely memorable, places to visit in New York City.

About the author:
Lindsey Lindquist - Adventure Student Travel - Group Travel Coordinator
Group Cruises, Bus Tours, and Group Tours Student Travel

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