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Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and its collection

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
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A busy museum that traces the history of thousands of immigrants to America. Intriguing, but gets crowded easily.

NLEllis Island
DEEllis Island
ESIsla Ellis
ITEllis Island
FREllis Island
ENEllis Island Immigration Museum
EN Ellis Island Museum

History & Anthropology History & Anthropology Ethnology Historic house

#15 Free museums in United States #18 History & Anthropology in United States #3 Ethnology museums in United States #15 Historic houses in United States #1 Free museums in New York #4 History & Anthropology in New York #1 Ethnology museums in New York #4 Historic houses in New York #1 Free museums in New York State #5 History & Anthropology in New York State #1 Ethnology museums in New York State #5 Historic houses in New York State

#15 Free museums in United States #18 History & Anthropology in United States #3 Ethnology museums in United States #15 Historic houses in United States #1 Free museums in New York #4 History & Anthropology in New York #1 Ethnology museums in New York #4 Historic houses in New York #1 Free museums in New York State #5 History & Anthropology in New York State #1 Ethnology museums in New York State #5 Historic houses in New York State

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Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
Ellis Island Bridge
NJ 10280 New York
New York

Images of Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Visitor information Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Opening hours

Monday
9:00 – 18:30
Tuesday
9:00 – 18:30
Wednesday
9:00 – 18:30
Thursday
9:00 – 18:30
Friday
9:00 – 18:30
Saturday
9:00 – 18:30
Sunday
9:00 – 18:30
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Admission

0+Free
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Facilities

We don't have information about the facilities of Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Location & Map

Ellis Island Bridge, New York

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Exhibitions

No exhibitions in Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration have been found.

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration Reviews

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration has 2 ratings.

  • Apollo's Insights AI-Generated

    The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration offers visitors a comprehensive look at the American immigration experience. Located in New York Harbor, the museum is housed in the historic immigration station where millions of newcomers were processed.

    The museum's exhibits are informative and well-organized, presenting a balanced view of the immigration process. Visitors can explore recreated rooms, view artifacts, and learn about the challenges and triumphs of immigrants. The audio guide, available in multiple languages, provides additional context and personal stories.

    Many visitors find the Wall of Honor, featuring names of immigrants, to be a moving experience. The interactive displays and multimedia presentations help bring history to life, making the information accessible to all age groups.

    While the museum receives high praise for its content, some visitors mention that it can get crowded, especially during peak seasons. A few reviewers note that some exhibits could benefit from updates or expansion. The ferry ride to the island, while part of the experience, can be time-consuming and may not be ideal for those with limited mobility.

    Overall, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration provides a thoughtful and educational experience, offering valuable insights into an important aspect of American history. It's generally considered well worth the visit for both tourists and locals interested in genealogy or history.

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  • Aspi* Korner
    Aspi* Korner • May 13, 2026

    Our first visit to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration was on Sep 10, 2008. I had but passing memories and few photos to show for. Our second and most recent visit was on Jun 23, 2025 as part of Road Scholar's "American Mosaic - An NYC Exploration" tour program. It felt like a much more enriching experience. We indeed did much more.

    For starters, we went to the Ellis Island Cafe. Lunch coupons (provided by the tour group) covered our meals, so no out-of-pocket expenses. After that, we started with the familiar Baggage Room. Then came the America Immigrant Wall of Honor kiosk, where we entered our family name for a commemorative certificate that we visited Ellis Island. Next was the Citizenship Gallery and "New Eras of Immigration" gallery. I don't recall both being around in 2008. The content is extensive. Loads of prose and photos on walls, numerous kiosks of personal stories (four per kiosk), and exhibits showing the immigration journey by sections (L-M-A-S-B, total of five) just to name a few. There was a console where kids could take the Citizenship Test. It looks similar to the one I took in Nov 2011 during my naturalization process. I liked the console that filters citizens by demography (ethnicity, country of origin, gender, etc.). I got a photo that shows how many Kryptonians are living in the United States.

    We then saw the Great Hall (don't remember much of it from the first visit), and then the exhibits on the upper floors. These included Peak Immigration Years gallery and Through America's Gates gallery on the second floor. Both were good but not as impressive as Citizenship Gallery and "New Eras of Immigration". While the third floor had natural lighting from the ceiling windows, but the exhibits on this floor got none of it. The displays were enclosed in glass walls with lighting that was dimmer within than without. Every time I tried to take a picture, my reflection appeared vividly on the walls. The Ellis Island Chronicles gallery - on the third floor - has miniature models of buildings on (models of) Ellis Island through the decades from the mid 19th century to WWII. It was a wonder to behold the sheer growth of capacity necessary to accommodate the increasing influx of immigrants. Also on the third floor is "Treasures from Home" gallery. This would be my #2 most impressive of all the exhibits. It displays numerous items - those that were donated - brought by the immigrants through Ellis Island. Again, dim lighting plus reflection on glass windows = no photos taken.

    We would have spent more time if we weren't on a schedule. Someday I might return and spend more time on Ellis Island and museum. I recommend visiting anytime of the year except during the summer vacation period (Jun to Aug). It was very crowded when we were there. Bodies were pressing against us while we were waiting for the boat back to the mainland. The weather was in the upper 90s deg. F. The waiting was long and uncomfortable. Nonetheless, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration was an enjoyable experience.

    Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration • Aspi* Korner

    Visited on Jun 23, 2025

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