Is it worth it to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people. They are powerful symbols not just for New York City but the entire United States. Experts estimate almost half of all Americans can trace their roots back through Ellis Island.



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Yes! Visiting the Statue of Liberty is a must when in New York. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, this monument is an important landmark and a testimony of the past of the city and the country, a symbol of what the United States wish to represent: democracy, freedom, hope.

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Overall, almost everyone who came through Ellis Island (around 98% by some counts) was admitted. By contrast, 60% of the immigrants who arrived at Angel Island—most of whom were Chinese—were detained, and it took weeks or months to be released; the longest detention Lee found was 756 days.

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Statue Cruises is the authorized concession for the park. How long do I need to visit Ellis Island? It will depend upon what you want to do while visiting. Generally, two to three hours is ample time to visit.

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Yes, you can visit Ellis Island by taking a ferry. Ellis Island is free to visit, though there is a fee for the ferry ticket. Only one company has the authorization to provide Ellis Island tickets – Statue City Cruises.

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There are many types of tickets available for the Statue of Liberty and every single one of them includes visiting Ellis Island. However, if you're not at all interested in visiting the Statue of Liberty and just want to visit Ellis Island, you'll want to purchase the “Reserve” ticket.

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Pedestal Access Those with reservations to the pedestal, the stone base that the Statue of Liberty sits on top of, must secure the following items in a locker: ALL FOOD & DRINKS (except water in a clear plastic bottle) ALL BACKPACK-STYLE BAGS (including over-sized bags, drawstring bags, and backpack purses) Strollers.

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Inevitably weekends are busier than mid-week, but it really is all relative and there is truly no quiet time to visit the statue. Our recommendation is to catch the first ferry departures Tuesday–Thursday if you really want to beat the crowds and get inside the museums ahead of anybody else.

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STATEN ISLAND FERRY Still, without a doubt, this is the best view of the Statue of Liberty you can get for free. In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry is one of the very best things you can do for free in NYC.

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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.

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