Icons of American liberty and freedom, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have long been a mainstay of the New York skyline and its history. Stretching back to the Dutch colonial settlement in the early seventeenth century, Ellis Island became a place known for both heartache and joy, processing over 12 million immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954, with Liberty Island standing as a beacon of hope for many of these immigrants. On this Statue of Liberty Tour visiting Ellis Island and Battery Park in the company of an art historian or preservationist, we’ll visit both islands to understand how the American ideal of freedom has changed over the years, and how immigration and cultural exchange have profoundly impacted the entire country.
Please note: Guiding is restricted in both the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island Museum. Your expert guide will provide information to enable you to fully appreciate these parts of the tour before visiting the museums and there will also be time for questions afterward.
Furthermore, you may encounter long queues at security checks before accessing the boats, given a change in the organization of the aforementioned security checks.
Statue of Liberty Tour
Beginning in Battery Park, we’ll visit Castle Clinton, the first immigration processing station, in use from 1855 to 1890. Initially built to protect New York during the War of 1812, the fort was never actually used for this purpose, was re-named Castle Garden, and was subsequently converted turned into a theater. After the station was moved to Ellis Island in 1892, Castle Garden became the New York City Aquarium, in use until 1941, and later named a national monument. We’ll consider the Castle’s physical location on Manhattan as an immigration processing center, compared to Ellis Island, which is removed from the mainland.
The Statue of Liberty
We’ll jump on the ferry and make our next stop at Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty. Liberty Island, however, has a longer history, from its stint as a smallpox quarantine station, to the years when it was known as “Love Island”, to the construction of Fort Wood, the star-shaped structure that still stands today. We’ll then move on to the statue herself: a gift from France to the US in 1886 and designed by French artist Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (with interior metalwork created by Gustave Eiffel), the neoclassical statue has long been an icon of American freedom and liberty, standing guard at the entry to New York Harbor. We’ll consider the relationship between France and the United States at the time, and put into context the notions of liberty and freedom that were heavily associated with the United States internationally. We’ll hear about the Statue’s conception and construction, and the international efforts that went into funding the project. We’ll also learn about some of the surprising responses to the Statue’s unveiling, including a maritime protest from a group of suffragettes.
Onto Ellis Island
Together we’ll board the ferry and ride to Ellis Island. Situated just behind Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island represented a gateway to America and a promise of a better life for many immigrants. With the Manhattan skyline in the background, we’ll learn the long history of the island, named after colonial merchant Samuel Ellis and acquired by the state of New York in 1785. Visiting the beaux-arts building and museum, we’ll consider the egalitarian ideals embodied in the design of the extravagant public buildings, and with that context, learn about the often difficult process that immigrants encountered upon their arrival. We’ll also consider the role of the hospitals on Ellis Island and their impact on the history of public health and sanitation in the United States. We’ll also have an opportunity to research our family histories, and see if our ancestry can be traced to someone who came through Ellis Island, like roughly 40% of US citizens.
Take Aways
As we depart Ellis Island and head back to Manhattan, we will have learned the process through which many of America’s many early immigrants came to this country. We will have an idea of how the democratic ideals expressed in the US Constitution were received and understood in a historical context, and we’ll know a bit more about the history of the New York Harbor itself.
FAQ
Are there restrictions on what I can bring?
The Statue of Liberty does not allow selfie sticks, large bags, large bottles of water, tripods, and other large objects.
Is there a line we need to wait in for this tour?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. However, you still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned which depending on the season can vary in wait time.
Is there a security check?
There is an airport-style security screening involving metal detectors, long lines, and occasional questioning as a part of access to the Statue of Liberty. Clients with mobility issues may be eligible for an expedited security process.
Is the Statue of Liberty wheelchair-accessible?
Yes, the museum and main areas are accessible to visitors with limited mobility.
