Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
Statue of Liberty
Folks who reserve their tickets to the
statue
(
877-523-9849;
www.nps.gov/stli
; Liberty Island;
adult/child incl Ellis Island $17/9, incl crown & Ellis Island $20/12; 9.30am-5.30pm, check website for seasonal
changes; 1 to South Ferry, 4/5 to Bowling Green)
in advance are able to climb the 354 steps to
Lady Liberty's crown, where the city and harbor are breathtaking. That said, crown access
is extremely limited, and the only way in is to reserve your spot in advance - and the fur-
ther in advance you can do it, the better, as a six-month lead time is allowed. Each cus-
tomer may only reserve a maximum of four crown tickets, and children must be at least
four-feet tall to access the crown. If you miss out on crown tickets, you may have better
luck booking tickets to the pedestal, which also offers commanding views.
Ellis Island's Immigration Museum
Ellis Island's three-level
Immigration Museum
is a poignant tribute to the immigrant ex-
perience. It is estimated that 40% of Americans today have at least one ancestor who was
processed at Ellis Island, confirming the major role this tiny harbor island has played in
the making of modern America. The museum's self-guided audio tour features narratives
from a number of sources, including historians, architects and the immigrants themselves,
bringing to life the centre's hefty collection of personal objects, official documents, photo-
graphs and film footage. It's an evocative experience to relive personal memories - both
good and bad - in the very halls and corridors in which they occurred. If you're very short
on time, focus on the outstanding Through America's Gate and Peak Immigration Years
exhibitions on the second floor.
Top Tips
›
The ferry ride from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan lasts only 15 minutes, but a trip to both the Statue of
Liberty and Ellis Island is an all-day affair, and only those setting out on the ferry by 1pm will be allowed to visit
both sites.
