Statue Of Liberty
National Monument and Ellis Island
Statue Of Liberty
National Monument and Ellis Island
Park Mailing Address:
Statue of Liberty National Monument & Ellis Island, Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004
Brief Park Description:
Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.
Nearby Ellis Island was incorporated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument on May 11, 1965. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million steerage and third class steamship passengers who entered the United States through the port of New York were legally and medically inspected at Ellis Island. Reopened on September 10, 1990 after a massive restoration, the Main Building on Ellis Island is now a museum dedicated to the history of immigration and the important role this island claimed during the mass migration of humanity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Telephone/Fax:
(212) 363-3200, (212) 363-6304 (fax), (212) 363-3200, ext. 158 or 161.(library).
Operating Hours:
Open daily: 9:00AM - 5:30PM, open for extended hours during the summer and closed on December 25th. From September 7th through October 17th. the park will be open from 8:30 am to 6:15 pm on weekends.
Visitation:
Highest in July and August; lowest in January and February. Average annual visitation to both Liberty and Ellis Islands is over 5 million people. During summer months access to the crown is limited for health and safety reasons. In order to reach the crown of the Statue, you must be on the first ferry of the day. From September 11, 1999 through October 17, 1999, (weekends only) visitors arriving on the first two ferries will have access to the crown.
Directions and Transportation:
Liberty and Ellis Islands are accessible by Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry, Inc. ferries only. One round trip ferry ticket includes visits to both islands. Ferries depart from Battery Park in New York and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Private vessels are not permitted to dock at the islands.
Fees:
Admission to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is free and all programs run by the National Park Service are free. Round trip ferry tickets cost $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and $6.00 for senior citizens. Call the ferry operator directly at (212) 269-5755 for additional information.
Accessibility:
The highest level of the Statue of Liberty accessible by elevator is the observation level at the top of the pedestal. The museum exhibits within the Statue's pedestal are completely accessible by elevator and there are tactile exhibits for the visually impaired. Ellis Island is completely wheelchair accessible with elevator access to all museum areas. Closed captioning for the film "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" is available upon request.
Programs and Activities
At the Statue of Liberty National Monument, visitors can climb 354 steps (22 stories) to the Statue’s crown. During summer months access to the crown is limited for health and safety reasons. In order to reach the crown of the Statue, you must be on the first ferry of the day. From September 11, 1999 through October 17, 1999, (weekends only) visitors arriving on the first two ferries will have access to the crown. The ascent to the crown is not recommended for those with health problems. An elevator which goes as high as the top of the pedestal is also available. Visitors who take the elevator to the top of the pedestal cannot then climb to the crown.
The Statue of Liberty Museum is located inside the pedestal. Museum exhibits chronicle the life of the Statue from her inception in France, through her construction and the Statue’s evolution into an international symbol of political freedom. Tours are given by National Park Service rangers, staffing levels permitting. For more information about programs for school groups including Junior Ranger Programs, please call the reservations coordinator at (212) 363-3200.
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers a variety of exhibits and programs about the history of Ellis Island and the immigration process. Immigrants were processed in the "Main Building" at Ellis Island while the immigration station was open between 1892 and 1954. Today, the Main Building is a three floor museum, containing a variety of self-guided permanent exhibits. Through America’s Gate provides a step-by-step synopsis of the actual immigrant inspection process. Peak Immigration Years (1880-1924) covers the journey of the immigrants to America and their settlement throughout the United States.
Treasures From Home contains a display of personal objects and stories of arriving immigrants between 1892 and 1954. The Peopling of America offers a look at immigration trends using statistics, time lines and graphs. Historic photographs of immigrants, official and personal papers and artifacts help to recreate the entire immigration experience.
The 30-minute documentary film "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" is shown in two theaters on a continuous basis. Ranger-guided tours are offered frequently. Programs for school groups are conducted by reservation only. Please call the reservations coordinator for more information at (212) 363-3200.
The museum includes a research library that contains materials related to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and immigration history. The Oral History Collection includes over 1,000 taped and transcribed interviews of actual Ellis Island immigrants and staff. Both the Library and Oral History Collection are open to the public during regular operating hours of the museum.
Basic Visit Recommendations:
Arrive early, drink plenty of fluids, remember to bring any medication, and dress warmly in the wintertime. Visitors with any health problems should not attempt to climb up to the Statue of Liberty's crown, which is a 22-story climb.
Permits:
Information and permits for public assembly, commercial photography/filming and the distribution of printed matter can be obtained by calling (212) 363-3200.
Adjacent Visitor Attractions:
Nearby in Lower Manhattan are: Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial, Fraunces Tavern, the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, The New York Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, the World Trade Center and the Lower east Side Tenement National Historic Site. In New Jersey are Liberty State Park, the Liberty Science Center, the Edison National Historic Site and Morristown National Historical Park.