Spotlight: NYC - New York Harbor (The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island)

Spotlight: The most iconic image in New York (and possibly the world) is the Statue of Liberty. It has appeared in dozens of films (particularly the "end of the world" genre), stamps, coins, T-shirts, etc. It is so recognizable, that some may think there is no need to go see it in person. I disagree. It's hard to truly appreciate its grandeur without seeing it standing there guarding the entrance of one of the largest, most important harbors in the world. Add to that a stop at Ellis Island, the most famous immigration station in US history, and you have an historic excursion.

Location: The statue is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Ellis Island is just north of Liberty Island. map link
- There are two places you can catch the ferry out to Liberty Island & Ellis Island. Most tourists take the ferry from Battery Park at the south end of Manhattan. However, you can also catch the ferry from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

Time: The first ferry leaves the mainland at 8:30 am. The last ferry leaves the mainland at 5:00 pm. The parks close at 6:30, and the last ferry back to the mainland departs at 6:45. You will probably want to spend a couple of hours on each island.

Cost: Ferry tickets to both Liberty and Ellis Islands: adults - $18; children (4-12) - $9; seniors (62+) - $14. Crown tour tickets cost an addition $3/person. Advanced purchasing adds additional  fees, but is necessary for crown tour, and avoids the huge ticket line.
- Clipper City tickets: adults - $45; children (3-12) - $25; infants (0-2) - $15; seniors (65+) - $38

Description:  Since its dedication in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed immigrants to the "Land of the Free" as they prepared to disembark at Ellis Island. It is pretty awesome to sail through this historic harbor and imagine what it must have felt like for the millions of immigrants whose first view of their new home was the majestic Lady Liberty.
     Once you disembark on Liberty Island, you are free to walk around and take pictures, explore the museum in the pedestal, tour Fort Wood, visit the the gift shop or cafeteria, take a ranger-led tour, or follow the audio tour (included in your ticket price). For those lucky enough to be able to climb the stairs to the observation deck in the crown of the statue, it is an experience you will never forget.

     On Ellis Island, guests can tour the old immigrant inspection station. The exhibits help visitors gain a greater appreciation of what the 12 million+ immigrants experienced as they sought realize their dreams in the Land of Liberty. At the same time, it is heartbreaking to realize all the sacrifices some went through, only to be turned back only a few hundred yards away from their dreams.

     If you are on a tight schedule, but really want to see the statue in person, you may want to consider skipping the ferry to the island, and taking a short harbor cruise down the path less trodden . One of the most relaxing things we did was take a clipper ship tour of the harbor from Clipper City. The 90 minute cruise of New York Harbor included a close pass of Liberty Island. The crew was friendly and interactive. For example, our daughter was chosen to help hoist the sails. Unfortunately, it is a bit pricier than the ferry tickets.

Things You Should Know:
- Parking is limited at Battery Park. It is recommended that you use public transportation to arrive at the park. If you are driving, you will have better luck finding parking at Liberty State Park in NJ. Parking at Liberty State Park is also cheaper, and I imagine the lines are shorter.
- Tickets for the Crown Tour are limited, and only available by advanced reservation (up to 6 months beforehand). I thought it was awesome, but anyone who is claustrophobic, has a fear of heights, or is not in good physical condition, might want to reconsider. Access to the crown is by a winding stairway, and is equivalent to climbing a 22-story building. Also, since the statue is not air-conditioned, it can be 20 degrees hotter than outside, so drink plenty of water about 30 minutes before starting the climb. Once inside, you are pretty much committed to go all the way, so make sure you visit the restroom beforehand.

- Tickets for the pedestal are also limited, and usually sell out before the first ferry departure, so you should strongly consider purchasing them ahead of time.
- Be prepared to wait in long lines for the ferry (upwards of two hours during the peak season). You can avoid the ticket line by purchasing tickets ahead of time, but you may be charged extra processing fees. Even then, you must pass through the long, slow-moving security line before boarding the ferry; so get there early (at least one hour before your scheduled tour time).
- The Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island is only available to guests 13 and over. It is a 90 minute walking tour that allows you to see other areas of Ellis Island that are not accessible to other guests, including the hospital, kitchen, and mortuary.
- To find out if your ancestors passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924, you can check out the Ellis Island database. The more information you have, the easier the search will be. Prior to 1892, immigrants were processed at Castle Clinton.
- While waiting in line to board the ferry, you can take turns looking around Battery Park, which includes Castle Clinton National Monument.
- Both Liberty Island and Ellis Island are maintained by the National Park Service. They may be closed without warning if the NPS feels that the safety of the statue or its visitors may be compromised, whether it be due to structural integrity, natural disasters, or a threat to homeland security.
- No pets are allowed on either Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
- Large bags are not allowed on either island. Small bags, purses, and camera cases are subject to security searches.
- Food may be purchased on the ferries, or at the cafeterias located on both islands.
- We did both the ferry trip and the Clipper ship harbor cruise. If I were to do it again, we would have done one or the other, and saved the other one for a future trip. That would have left us more time for exploring more of Central Park or one of the museums.
- Just because you've seen the miniature Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas doesn't mean you've been there, done that. It doesn't hold a candle to the Liberty Lady's torch.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) - a perfect 5 if not for the lines.

Nearby: Governor's Island, Castle Clinton (in Battery Park), World Trade Center Memorial, Wall St., Thomas Edison NHP, Morristown NHP, Paterson Great Falls NHP