Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

"The Ellis Island National Museum offers a captivating journey through the history of immigration in the United States. With interactive exhibits and poignant displays, visitors can trace the experiences of millions who sought opportunity and refuge on American shores. From arrival processes to personal stories, the museum provides a profound insight into the diverse tapestry of America's immigrant heritage. A must-visit for those seeking to understand the roots of American identity."

"This is the second stop on the ferry from NYC — first stop being the Statue of Liberty. We ended up spending 6 hours total visiting both islands, so if you don’t have enough time, I would recommend only visiting the Statue of Liberty and the museum there. If you have ancestors who came through Ellis Island, I would highly recommend visiting. The museum here was informative and interactive, it was a great experience overall."

"Very interesting museum, there is a lot to uncover so if you're thinking about doing Liberty island after Ellis Island, forget about it. I spent too much time reading and walking through the 4 floors or so this museum has. A lot of rooms and material to see from the history of immigration in America, to the creation of Ellis Island Immigration Center, to how to become an American citizen, there is plentiful of stuff to do. And there is even a cafe for lunch (not very cheap) ! I recommend that you start your visit looking at the vast area in the center of the building, a historical place where people were waiting in line. But then you should get to the top floors if you want to see old items and historical stuff rather than just the history panels. I got to read those and barely had time to see the other floors which I think are way more interesting to see."

"It was an Interesting place. I wish I had done more research and planned my itinerary better. We only spent about an hour, but I think we could spend much longer. An hour was not enough (we didn't get an audio tour as we thought it might take longer). There are a lot to see, read, and learn about. If you don't have too much time (like less than an hour), I would skip it so that you won't be rushed for other schedules, but if you have more than an hour, take your time and do the audio tour!"

"This museum is absolutely spectacular. I am not usually a fan of museums, and I'm not usually interested in historical museums. However this one is incredibly touching, and it shows the lows and the highs of history in the world and in the United States. In particular, on the main floor, I really enjoyed the narrated passages that were collected and brought to life by voice actors. On the second floor, it's less interactive however still just as interesting, with old photographs and more. Finally the modern wing has information about what immigration and citizenship look like today in the United States (although to be honest, I think there could be a much more in this modern wing than that is presented, there's always more to do in this space.) I spent easily two or three times as long on Ellis Island vs Liberty Island. I have too many pictures to even count, so I'll just pick a few. If you have 5 hours during your trip, and you can get here early enough, I highly recommend it. (November 2023)"