30 minute - Walking in the Immigrant Footsteps Tour

Opened in 1892 this Federal Immigration Station processed more than twelve million immigrants before closing in 1954. Although a National Park Service site since 1965, the Ellis Island Main Building didn't open until 1990. Start your 30-minute tour reading about the Baggage Room.

Ellis Architectural Highlights

Main Immigration Building - front elevation: The monumental Main Immigration Building opened at the end of 1900 to replace the original wooden station that burned in 1897. The New York firm of Boring & Tilton was chosen as the architects after an invitational competition, only the second held under the Tarsney Act of 1893 allowing private architects to compete for government commissions. Both principal architects had studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris.

Ellis Cafe

Amenities Food Service available at Ellis Island

Ferry Building Wayside

Overlooking the Ellis Island slip, the Ferry building has undergone may changes over the years. Today you see the third evolution of this building as a primary docking area for National Park Service boats.

Ferry: Ellis Island to Battery Park, New York

Board the Statue Cruises Ferry here to return to The Battery, New York.<br />On the Statue Cruises website, click on "menu," then "Departure Schedule" for today's Ferry Schedule. <a href="http://statuecruises.com">Ferry Schedule <b>From New York</b> </a>

Fort Gibson

In the early 1800's, the young American government realized that Ellis Island, with its clear view of the entrance to New York Harbor, had strategic value as a defense post. Since the British had easily invaded New York with very little resistance during the American Revolution, the protection of New York became a top priority for the new government. Preceding the War of 1812, the United States War Department constructed Fort Gibson (named after Colonel James Gibson who was f

• Ellis Island Fort Gibson Wall<br />196 words; Length: :44<br /><br />The remains of one of New York Harbor's earliest forts can be found in the park behind the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. There are two distinct areas of the exposed foundation of the fort, each enclosed by a three-foot-high black metal fence with a tubular, silver metal rail. A six-foot-wide granite walkway passes over the two sections of the stone foundation, with the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on the eastern side of the walkway. There are four informational wayside signs at the area, which give a brief history of the fort and how the walls were discovered and excavated.<br /><br />The irregularly shaped foundation stones, some as long as twenty feet, and sit about six- to twelve inches high.<br /><br />The informational signs are each about two feet talk by six feet long. They are red, and each has an orange diagrammatic map and white text. The first wayside sign is entitled: "Fort Gibson: Defending the Approaches. The second is entitled: "Fort Gibson: Uncovering the Past. The third is entitled: "The Other Ellis Island Story". The third is entitled "Fort Gibson: Ammunition to Immigration." The fourth is entitled: "Fort Gibson: Oyster Banks to Batteries."<br /><br />End of Message

Great Hall Benches (2nd Floor)

Since 1912, millions of immigrants in the Great Hall waited on benches wondering if they would be allowed to enter the United States. Today, you may sit in the same place - and consider what your thoughts and feelings would be - as you awaited legal inspection. The dark benches are originals dating between 1912 and 1924. The golden benches are replicas, fabricated by New York State high school students. Learn more about the schools, the students and their benches on the

• This stairs in the Baggage Room take you to the Registry Room on the second floor of the Main Immigration Building. The Registry Room is where immigrants underwent medical and legal inspection. This space is about 200 feet long from the top of steps where you are standing to the far end, and 100 feet across. The arched ceiling is composed of more than 28,000 tiles, laid out in a herringbone pattern-56 feet above your head. The room is almost empty. The structure has been restored to its appearance in 1918, and a few of the original wooden benches-as well as some reproduction inspector desks-have been placed at the far end of the hall. Semi-circular windows about 20 feet high flank either side of the room. A balcony circles the room above the windows, and atop the balcony level, a second tier of arched windows lets in additional light.

Historic Legal Inspection (2nd Floor)

Inspectors behind desks asked immigrants their name, home town, occupation, destination, and amount of money they carried. Those allowed to pass continued downstairs. Those detained for additional legal examination waited for an opportunity to explain further in the Board of Special Inquiry room, where their Hearing would be held. About one percent would be denied admission for violation of America laws. Watching the clock? Come back and read the legal question sections

Historic Medical Inspection (2nd Floor)

As immigrants entered the building and climbed the stairs, doctors watched for a limp, labored breathing, or other suspected troubles. While ten percent were held back for additional medical examination, eventually all but one percent were allowed entry to the United States. After you read about the Doctors and the Six-Second Exam, walk across the Great Hall and have a seat on one of the Benches before scrolling to the Great Hall Bench Section.

Museum - 2nd Floor West

Exhibit describing the immigrant's experience on Ellis Island.

• Located across the Registry Room opposite the Peak Immigration Years exhibit, is the west wing of the building. The Through America's Gate exhibition is housed in this wing. The exhibit is displayed in 16 rooms, many of the spaces retaining their original finishes and configurations from when the Immigration Station was still in use. The exhibit explains how immigrants were processed upon arrival at Ellis Island. <br /><br />To access the third floor of the museum, please take the elevator located in the hallway opposite the bathrooms in the Through America's Gate exhibit or the elevator located in the atrium in the Peak Immigration Years exhibit.<br />

Registry Room - Great Hall (2nd Floor)

Today, the enormous arched windows and immense open spaces of the Registry Room evoke a feeling of grandeur. For the immigrants, however, the room was often a loud, confusing and frightening place. Nearly every day, for over two decades (1900-1924), the Registry Room was filled with new arrivals waiting to be inspected and registered by Immigration Service officers. On many days, over 5,000 people would file through the space. For most immigrants, this great hall epitomized E

South Side Wayside

Across the ferry slip on Ellis Island's south side, you'll find an amazing group of wards, residences, labs, laundries and kitchens which once made up the largest U. S. Public Health Service hospital in the country. Here doctors inspected and treated 1.2 million immigrants who arrived with illnesses or infirmities. In these buildings, immigrants learned if America's door would swing open to them or close because of a "loathsome or contagious" disease. Here, they also recei

Stairs of Separation

The Stairs of Separation acquired this name because each staircase led to a different destination. The south staircase (to your left, looking down) was for immigrants who were allowed entry and going to the New York dock. The north staircase (to your right, looking down) was for immigrants who were allowed entry but wanted to exchange currency, purchase a railroad ticket or snack before heading to either New York or New Jersey. The center staircase was for immigrants who w

Ellis Island Information Desk

• Ellis Island Information Desk
• The Ellis Island Information Desk provides general information, including the schedule of ranger-guided tours, special program, and film times. A ranger or volunteer is available to answer questions and provide information about the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration and make recommendations for your visit. The park brochure, Passport To Your National Parks (R) cancellation stamp, and the ferry departure schedule are also located at the information desk.

• The Baggage Room
• The Information Desk inside the Baggage Room gives you valuable information to plan your trip.

• Tour the Hospital Complex
• Visit the Hospital and Contagious Disease Ward on Ellis Island.

• Spend a Day on the Island
• Spend a Day on Ellis Island

• Research Family Immigration History
• Ship manifests, including 51 million arrival records, can be searched at the American Family Immigration History Center.

• Self-guided Audio Tour
• Ellis Island self-guided audio tour.