ABOUT YOUR VISIT
Brief Histories of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty, one of the most universal symbols of America, was actually a gift from the people of France. Conceived as the embodiment of political freedom and a gift of international friendship, "Liberty Enlightening the World" (the Statue's original name) has become a beacon for people both commemorating and still in search of freedom and opportunity. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor during a formal ceremony on October 28, 1886. The colossal statue was designated a National Monument by Presidential Proclamation on October 15, 1924 during the Coolidge administration and was transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior, National Park Service under the Act of March 3, 1933. The Statue was extensively conserved and restored in the early 1980's and celebrated her centennial in style on July 4, 1986. In 1984, the Statue was designated as a World Heritage Site. On September 11, 2001, Liberty Island was closed for security reasons for the next 100 days. Although the park opened its doors back to visitors on December 20, 2001, the Statue remained closed while vital safety and security improvements were implemented. The Statue opened once again on August 3, 2004.
Nearby Ellis Island was incorporated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument by President Lyndon Johnson on May 11, 1965, in recognition of the island's former function as an immigrant inspection station and a temporary shelter for approximately 12 million people who sought refuge, freedom and opportunity in the United States between 1892 and 1954. Reopened to the public on September 10, 1990 after a massive $160 million restoration, the Main Building on Ellis Island is now a museum dedicated to the history of the Ellis Island Immigration Station. On September 11, 2001, Ellis Island was closed and used as a medical triage and refuge area for several hundred persons who fled and were rescued from Lower Manhattan after the World Trade Center was destroyed. The Ellis Island remained closed for 100 days and opened on December 20, 2001. During World Wars I and II, Ellis Island was used in a capacity to treat wounded U.S. soldiers arriving back from battle.
For further information about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, please write to the park superintendent at: The Statue of Liberty National Monument, Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004 or call (212) 363-3200 for a recorded information message or fax an information request to (212) 363-6304
Location, Ferry Service, Public Transportation, and Fees
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
Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. 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 N/R train to the Whitehall Street station. Check the NYC Transit Authority for latest service changes.
Battery Park, NY by bus: take the M15 (East Side) marked "South Ferry" or the M6 (West Side) from 57th Street.
Battery Park, NY by auto: take the East Side Drive (FDR Drive) south to Battery Park and State Street or the West Side Highway/West Street/Route 9A south to Battery Place. Designated parking is not available. Privately operated parking lots are located along West Street and South Street (beneath the FDR Drive). Because parking is limited, it is best to arrive early or take public transportation.
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 and Jersey City by auto, take the New Jersey Turnpike to exit 14B. There is ample parking available in Liberty State park for a fee.
There is no entrance fee to the park. All programs run by the National Park Service are free but are subject to change due to staffing. Donations are encouraged and are used for maintaining the resources on both islands.
Ferry Ticket Prices:
Round-trip ferry tickets to get to and from the islands cost $11.50 for adults, $9.50 for senior citizens(62 and over), $4.50 for children between 4 and 12, free for children 3 and under. Ferry schedules are subject to change depending upon weather conditions and heavy visitation. For ferry schedules, please contact Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. directly at (212) 269-5755 for New York departures and (201) 435-9499 for New Jersey departures. Ferry schedules are posted on-line at: www.statueoflibertyferry.com
Advance Ticket Sales and Time Passes: Visitors wanting to visit inside the Statue of Liberty (up to the pedestal), must obtain a ferry ticket and time-pass. Tickets and time passes are available in advance by calling the ferry company at:: 1-866-STATUE-4. A limited number of time passes are also handed out daily at the ferry ticket offices on a first-come, first-served basis. These passes are required to visit the interior of the monument, not the park (Liberty & Ellis Islands). A handling fee of $1.75 will be charged per advanced ticket and can be picked up at the ferry ticket "Will-Call" area. Advanced time-passes and ferry ticket reservations can also be made on-line at: www.statuereservations.com
Time-pass holders are advised to arrive at the ferry departure sites at least two hours in advance.
Private vessels are not permitted to dock at Liberty and Ellis Islands.
Operating Hours & Seasonal Tips
Liberty
and Ellis Islands are open every day except December 25th. Our highest visitation occurs during the months of June
through September. Visitation can be high during holiday and weekend periods throughout the year. Access to facilities
at both Liberty Island and Ellis Island can be limited prior to the final ferry departure. Please allow for ferry
transportation time in your schedule. For further information on hours of operation, please call (212) 363-3200
or visit the Circle Line-Statue
of Liberty Ferry, Inc on-line for ferry schedules and advance ticket sales.
Park Hours:
Liberty Island: 8:30am - 6:00pm.
Ellis Island: 8:30am - 6:15pm.
Tickets for Ferry Service are sold until approximately 3:300pm. Due to the park's security procedures, please allow for ample time in your visitation plans.
As part of normal closing procedures, there may be limited access in certains areas of the park prior to the final boat departure of the day.
Ferry Ticket prices:
Adult Ticket: $11.50, Senior (62 and over): $9.50, Child (4-12): $4.50, Kids under 4 :Free.
*Visitor Notice: Visitors to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island pass through security screening before boarding the ferry.
Updated visitor, security, and reservations guidelines .
Dining, Gift Shops & Conferences
The Statue of Liberty Cafeteria is operated by the Evelyn Hill Corporation. The cafeteria is open daily and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu offers a variety of foods and beverages.
The Statue of Liberty Gift Shop is located near the cafeteria. Items available include a unique variety of gifts, books, videotapes and souvenirs about the Statue of Liberty and her history. Call (212) 363-3180 for more details.
The Ellis Island Cafe is operated by the Aramark Corporation. The Cafe is open daily and offers an appetizing array of both international and American foods and beverages. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, with the outdoor deck overlooking the American Immigrant Wall of Honor and Lower Manhattan. For groups, Aramark can pre-arrange lunches and/or vouchers to facilitate your visit.
The Ellis Island Gift Shop provides a wide range of international gifts and souvenirs including books, videotapes and posters relating to the immigration experience. Additionally, a significant number of genealogy publications are offered, and all gift shop items are available through mail order. Call (212) 344-0996 for more details.
Conferences and Evening Events In association with the National Park Service, Aramark offers groups the exclusive use of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum for private evening events. The magnificent Great Hall is magically transformed into a historic, unique and spectacular venue for sit-down dinners of 750+ people; the Baggage Room and Great Lawn can each accommodate 1000+ people for cocktails. Special features include breathtaking views of Manhattan and the private use of the entire museum and its facilities during your event. Conference room facilities are also available for day meetings and functions for up to 125 people. For more information, write to Aramark, Ellis Island, New York, NY 10004 or call (212) 344-0996, fax (212) 344-0219.
Guide
and other assist animals are welcome. Emergency medical services are available on both Liberty and Ellis Islands.
There are a limited number of wheelchairs available at both islands on a first come-first served basis. Contact
any National Park Service employee for assistance.
If you are departing from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, there are no handicapped designated public parking spaces available, however the park and docking areas are level. Parking is by private lot only. Handicapped accessible rest rooms are available in Castle Clinton National Monument and ferry ticket counters are handicapped accessible.
If you are departing from Liberty State Park in New Jersey, designated parking is available for a fee. There are level walkways to the ferry boarding area. Handicapped accessible rest rooms are located at Liberty State Park.
Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. personnel provide assistance on the ferry gangways. Aboard the ferries, enclosed areas are available. Rest rooms aboard ferries are not handicapped accessible.
At Liberty Island, all outdoor walkways are paved and level, and benches are located throughout the island. All buildings are handicapped accessible. The observation level at the top of the pedestal can be reached by using the main elevator along with a 24-step climb. Handicapped access to the museum exhibits and Fort Wood promenade, via elevator, is available upon request. Tactile models of the island, armature bars and full scale replicas of the Statue's foot and face are located in the museum exhibits.
Ranger-guided tours are offered at Liberty and Ellis Islands with ASL - American Sign Language translation
at scheduled intervals. For a schedule of ASL translated tours
click here.
Videos are closed-captioned. Rest rooms are handicapped accessible. For safety precautions, all visitors who enter the Statue must pass through a metal detector and an x-ray machine. VISITOR ACCESS & SECURITY INFORMATION.
At Ellis Island, all outdoor walkways are level and paved, including the grounds of the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Inside the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, two elevators are available for visitor use. The museum contains tactile models of the island layout and floor plan with a Braille legend. The film "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" is closed-captioned. Theaters and tours can accommodate all visitors. An audio tour is available for a fee, but was not specifically designed for the visually impaired. Scripts of the Ellis Island audio tour are available for use by the hearing impaired. All exhibit areas and the library are accessible.
Food Service areas on Liberty and Ellis Islands can accommodate all visitors. Seating is available at both areas. The condiment counter at Ellis Island is not accessible, but assistance is available.
Safety Message & Current Weather
A few helpful hints
that will make your visit more enjoyable: Be sure to bring your medications with you. The monument's interior can
be hotter than exterior temperatures, remember to eat properly and drink plenty of fluids.
Click here for current weather conditions.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have emergency medical staff available for the safety of our visitors.
In case of unexpected injuries and illnesses, transportation to the mainland can be provided.
Last Revised: June 28, 2006.
