Ellis Island Immigration Museum

03/15/2007 Posted by nlnethery

this is a great museum to go to on a spring day because of the boat ride to Ellis Island. The tour really helped me imagine how my great-grandparents must have felt as they came in. The exhibits, including audio clips from immigrants, are fascinating. It's a full day's worth of entertainment and learning.

Pros: great museum, interesting piece of history, boat ride

10/13/2005 Posted by dotschild1

Take your time to wander about the majestic hall of this beautifully restored building. Share in the footsteps of past relatives and feel the sense of accomplishment they felt from just entering the glorious doors. People always say that history is an important lesson of the past but this museum allows you to reach out and touch a part of history that many people (within their own families) can relate to.

09/02/2003 Posted by rudee

Although I'm not an American citizen (Canadian actually) I still found the Museum facinating. I highly recommend taking the free guided tour. Give youself at least 2-3 hours to see all the exhibits, or you'll surely miss out on something. I'd recommend you also see Ellis Island before you visit Liberty Island, as you will need plenty of time to take it all in.

Pros: Free guided Tour

03/11/2003 Posted by suziecurliecue

When I walked through the whole place, I could feel all the emotions that had went on in there. It is so cool to go outside and look at the immigrants that came to America and to find the immigrants having the same last name as you. I went on a band trip during spring break in 2002. It is a good place to go if you like history.

Pros: Inexpensive, Good parking, Not crowded

12/25/2002 Posted by apbryant

Lines are horrendous. Takes forever to get out to the island. You'll freeze your ass off while you are there. Skip this and buy a book. There is hardly anyhting to see in that museum except photos.

Cons: cold, boring, time consuming

10/03/2002 Posted by travelinms

absolutely takes your breath away, puts you in the shoes of the immigrants taht made our country is what it is today.An awesome and humbling experience.

Pros: outstanding exhibits, beautiful view, great giftshop

08/09/2002 Posted by SophiaNY

Touching, educational look at the roots of many of us from New York, and America.

07/28/2002 Posted by wr552

Wow! What a moving experience! Anyone who has ancestors who came through Ellis Island should visit here. I highly recommend taking the free guided tour (report to the information desk). It lasts about 45 mins. and added immeasurably to the trip. Our guide treated us as if we were immigrants and brought us to various parts of the building, making sure we were aware that our ancestors followed that very route. It was very moving to me to trace the steps of my beloved grandmother. The exhibits are fascinating and you can eat off the floors. One caveat, though: bring a sweater--the temperature in the building was so low, you could have hung meat!! Don't miss this museum!

Pros: Deeply moving

Cons: Ill-advised, placement of, research computers.

07/24/2002 Posted by clairehorn

Having visitors from out of town gives you a great oppotunity to visit Ellis Island. You get the trip to Battery Park by whatever method of transportation, some time in Battery Park, the boat trip out to Ellis Island, and then the museum itself. Ellis Island can appeal to nearly all visitors with all the photos of the immigrants and the artifacts. Also you get great views back at the city and of the Statue of Liberty.

Pros: artifacts & photos, boat ride, view

07/23/2002 Posted by Karen_456

My mother and I went to Ellis Island after a trip to the Statue of Liberty. We should have gone there first! Take the time to sit down for their "orientation" movie. It provides you with the historic background of the building and a description of what took place in which part of the building. It was wonderful. I can't wait to go back.

Pros: Historic, Easy to reach, Meaningful