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Can you go into Liberty Island?

Tickets are limited based on safety and security standards. To visit both islands in one day, the National Park Service recommends an early ferry departure. Tickets are purchased through Statue City Cruises, the official ferry service provider. Ferries provide transportation to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.



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If you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty, you must buy a Pedestal Access or Crown Access ticket. General Admission tickets do not get you access inside the statue. If you are interested in tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, read more below.

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All visitors must purchase a ticket to board the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. All tickets are available to purchase up to six months in advance. Grounds Tickets are available daily and can be purchased via the Statue Cruises website or in-person at the Statue Cruises ticket booths.

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Visitors arrive and depart Liberty Island and Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor, via ferries operated by Statue City Cruises. These ferries leave from two locations: The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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The statue's crown has been off-limits since March 16 of 2020, when the National Park Service halted all public operations at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island because of the pandemic.

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The last residents of Liberty Island, superintendent David Luchsinger and his wife, Debbie, left the island in 2013. The Statue of Liberty Museum now occupies the side of the island where the residences used to be.

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Your first stop will be on Liberty Island and there you can find restrooms near the gift shop, the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Pedestal.

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But no one lives on the island anymore. Residents were evacuated for Hurricane Sandy, which flooded and badly damaged the homes. Those buildings were eventually torn down, making room for the museum.

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Federal ownership Liberty Island has been owned by the federal government since 1801, first as a military installation and now as a national landmark.

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How long is the entire trip? Sailing time to each island is approximately 15 minutes. If you remain on boat for ride only without visiting either monument, it will be one hour and fifteen minutes. If you visit both islands the time depends on the time you spend on both islands.

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As a tour guide, a question I hear a lot is: “Is it worth it to see Ellis Island?” For those who have no familial connection or relation to the people who passed through, its importance and influence can often be overlooked. Which is why I am here to tell you that it is absolutely, 100% worth it.

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Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are only accessible by ferry.

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Food, beverages, and gift shops are available on both islands. Visitors may bring their own food and beverage to Liberty and Ellis Island.

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Bags & Backpacks Large bags are not allowed on Liberty or Ellis Islands. There are no locker facilities at the New York and New Jersey embarkation points. Backpacks, strollers and large umbrellas are not permitted in the Monument.

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The minimum amount of time you should leave to visit both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is 2.5-3 hours. It may seem like a long time to carve out of your NYC vacation, but the process of getting over there is pretty tricky, and there is really a lot you should see.

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The water around the Statue of Liberty is 62 feet at its deepest point between Liberty Island and the island of Manhattan. The water in New York Harbor is relatively deep, as it is a major shipping port.

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The city of New York acquired the island in 1758, and it was ceded to the state of New York in 1796 and to the federal government in 1800. Fort Wood was built there for the War of 1812, and the statue was erected within the fort in 1885–86.

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It is not. The Statue is located on Liberty Island, a short ferry ride from America's most famous immigration center, Ellis Island. Ellis Island is now home to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Park Rangers provided brief tours at each museum.

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At Liberty Island, visitors can also pick up an audio-tour with their visit. The traditional tours are about an hour long, while family tours last about 50 minutes.

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