A visit to Ellis Island affords the opportunity to experience a destination that no other city can provide. Ellis Island was the gateway through which more than 12 million immigrants passed between 1892 and 1954 in their search for freedom and a new life.
At the visitor center you can hear oral history interviews, see films and live theatrical productions, and view hundreds of photos of immigrants and exhibits of items they brought with them. Noteworthy is The American Immigrant Wall of Honor, the longest wall of names in the world, commemorates more than five million first-generation Americans.
This is also an interactive educational experience. You can use a computer to see if your last name appears anywhere on the wall. You will also have easy access to the ships' passenger manifest records through a searchable database. If your search is successful, you'll get a reproduction of that manifest.
You can only get to Ellis Island via Statue Cruises, which depart regularly from Battery Park from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 pm. daily. Keep in mind that, as it's federal property, there is a security barrier and lines can be long during the high tourist season.
