Ellis Island National Monument
Ellis Island
Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. The station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers tracing the ancestry of over 40% of America's population.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Cynthia GarrettPhone Number: 212-363-3200
Entrance Fees: Adult Ferry Fee (ages 13 & older): $12; Child Ferry Fee (ages 4-12): $5; Senior (ages 62 & older): $10
Sights: American Family Immigration History Center; Statue of Liberty
Important Dates
Established as Park: September 10, 1990By The Numbers
Acres: 58.00Location
Latitude / Longitude :40.698650 / -74.040710 (map it)
State: NJ
Nearby Big City: New York, NJ
Gateway Communities: New York, NY; Jersey City, NJ
Nearby Airports: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR); John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK); LaGuardia International Airport (LGA)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : Yes
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Ellis Island Building E...
Leyla Heckrotte
Ellis Island Lighting F...
Sheldon Kralstein
Interior of the Great H...
Bill Grove
View More Ellis Island Photos
In Detail
At A Glance "Our growth as a nation has been achieved, in large measure, through the genius and industry of immigrants of every race and from every quarter of the world. The story of their pursuit of happiness is ... read more.
At Your Fingertips Park Information (212) 363-3200 www.nps.gov/stli Emergencies (212) 363-3260 Ferryboat Information (212) 269-5755 www.statueoflibertyferry.com Lost and Found (212) 363-3200 Dining, Catering, Gifts an ... read more.
Chronology April 11, 1890 Designated an immigration station. Jan. 1, 1892 Opened as an immigration station. June 14, 1897 Buildings destroyed by fire, but all persons safely evacuated. Dec. 17, 1900 Reo ... read more.
Destined For Fame These immigrants passed through Ellis Island and went on to illustrious careers. Name (Date of Birth—Death) Native Country Arrived Field Charles Atlas (1894—1972) Italy 1903 Bodybuilding ... read more.
Ellis Island Immigration Center On April 17, 2001, the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. opened an exciting family history research facility, the American Family Immigration History Center, at the Ellis Island Immig ... read more.
Ferry Building Restoration The Ellis Island Ferry Building is the first of 30 un-restored buildings on Ellis Island for which Save Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service, has raised the funds to co ... read more.
History of Ellis Island THE EARLY YEARS Located in the upper New York Bay, a short distance from the New Jersey shore, Ellis Island was originally known to American Indians as Kioshk, or Gull Island, named for the birds tha ... read more.
Immigration Journey In his book, A Nation of Immigrants, John F. Kennedy writes, "There were probably as many reasons for coming to America as there were people who came. It was a highly individual decision." Histo-rian ... read more.
They Came From Many Lands Below is a breakdown by country of the number of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island from January 1892 to June 1897, and from 1901 to 1931. Exceptions to those years have been noted in parenth ... read more.
Transportation Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry: Boats leave from Battery Park, Manhattan and from Liberty State Park, New Jersey. They run about every 30 to 45 minutes starting at 9 a.m. (ferry schedules a ... read more.
Visitor Services Location Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor. General Information Please call (212) 363-3200, or write the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, Liberty Island, New York, NY 1 ... read more.
Welcome to Ellis Island Welcome to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty was presented by the people of France to the people of the United States in 1886 to honor the friendship bet ... read more.
Your Ancestors Was one of your ancestors an immigrant whose first step on American soil was at Ellis Island? Could your great-great-grandfather or grandmother have walked through these buildings in search of a new ... read more.
Ellis Island In Depth
News from the Parks
Snow greets visiting hikers at Mount Rainier
July 25, 2008 - 10:15am
PARADISE, Wash. -- Cool ocean temperatures in the southern Pacific Ocean -- a phenomenon known as La Nina -- chilled sunny expectations this summer for thousands of visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. Those who arrived here in July planning to backpack or hike its famous sub-alpine wildflower meadows found snow instead, six feet in places, though sunny daytime temperatures reach into the 70s. The popular mountain that draws 1.5 million visitors each year received 950 inches of snow last winter, 300 inches more than its 650-inch average. Park officials said a cooler than usual spring also pushed back the thaw.
July 25, 2008 - 10:15am
PARADISE, Wash. -- Cool ocean temperatures in the southern Pacific Ocean -- a phenomenon known as La Nina -- chilled sunny expectations this summer for thousands of visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. Those who arrived here in July planning to backpack or hike its famous sub-alpine wildflower meadows found snow instead, six feet in places, though sunny daytime temperatures reach into the 70s. The popular mountain that draws 1.5 million visitors each year received 950 inches of snow last winter, 300 inches more than its 650-inch average. Park officials said a cooler than usual spring also pushed back the thaw.
CAUSE OF FIRE NEAR STAIRCASE RELEASED
July 25, 2008 - 10:14am
The U.S. Forest Service says the brush fire Monday night off the road to the Staircase area of Olympic National Park was human caused. According to a news release, the fire, dubbed the East Cushman Fire, was contained before it reached one-tenth of an acre in size. An abandoned campfire ring at its origin indicated that the ignition was human caused.
July 25, 2008 - 10:14am
The U.S. Forest Service says the brush fire Monday night off the road to the Staircase area of Olympic National Park was human caused. According to a news release, the fire, dubbed the East Cushman Fire, was contained before it reached one-tenth of an acre in size. An abandoned campfire ring at its origin indicated that the ignition was human caused.
Hikers should expect plenty of snow on higher routes
July 25, 2008 - 10:13am
Hikers should expect lots of snow on mountain trails still, with rangers saying that higher-elevation routes in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park are two weeks to one month behind in terms of melting out. Higher than normal snowpack coupled with lower than normal temperatures well into spring means that, in general, those going over routes at the 5,000- to 6,000-foot level need to be comfortable traveling on snow and have poles or ice axes and route-finding skills.
July 25, 2008 - 10:13am
Hikers should expect lots of snow on mountain trails still, with rangers saying that higher-elevation routes in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park are two weeks to one month behind in terms of melting out. Higher than normal snowpack coupled with lower than normal temperatures well into spring means that, in general, those going over routes at the 5,000- to 6,000-foot level need to be comfortable traveling on snow and have poles or ice axes and route-finding skills.
Cabin lottery takes a hike
July 25, 2008 - 10:11am
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - Officials at Haleakala National Park announced Thursday the end of the lottery system used for years to select cabin users in the crater. Starting with September, all reservations for the wilderness cabins will be taken over the phone up to three months ahead of the reservation, on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Calls for reservations will only be accepted between 1 and 3 p.m. HST daily at 572-4400. As of midday Thursday, there were no openings in August for any of the three cabins in Haleakala Crater
July 25, 2008 - 10:11am
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - Officials at Haleakala National Park announced Thursday the end of the lottery system used for years to select cabin users in the crater. Starting with September, all reservations for the wilderness cabins will be taken over the phone up to three months ahead of the reservation, on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Calls for reservations will only be accepted between 1 and 3 p.m. HST daily at 572-4400. As of midday Thursday, there were no openings in August for any of the three cabins in Haleakala Crater
Second bear killed in Yellowstone in recent weeks
July 25, 2008 - 10:10am
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Rangers in Yellowstone National Park have killed a black bear that became accustomed to eating human food. Park officials say the 130-pound male bear was getting food from hikers' backpacks in northern Yellowstone. Repeated attempts to trap the bear failed. On Wednesday, the bear was caught ripping into the packs of a large group of backcountry hikers. Rangers cleared the area of visitors and shot the bear.
July 25, 2008 - 10:10am
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Rangers in Yellowstone National Park have killed a black bear that became accustomed to eating human food. Park officials say the 130-pound male bear was getting food from hikers' backpacks in northern Yellowstone. Repeated attempts to trap the bear failed. On Wednesday, the bear was caught ripping into the packs of a large group of backcountry hikers. Rangers cleared the area of visitors and shot the bear.
