An Insider’s Guide to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – New York, New Jersey
One of the most cherished sites in the United States and a timeless representation of liberty and freedom is the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most beloved sites in the United States and a timeless emblem of liberty and freedom. It stands tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, just off Lower Manhattan in New York City.
However, the creator of this statue is not an American citizen. Édouard de Laboulaye, a French political theorist, suggested Lady Liberty Enlightening the World be created as a gift for the United States in 1865. It took years for the dream to come true. The 22-story statue was erected on what is now Liberty Island in 1886 and was created by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi.
The statue’s release was timely. A wave of more than 12 million immigrants entered New York Harbor by sailing by the monument between 1892 and 1954. Ellis Island, which is located in the port, was their first destination.
How to Travel to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty
With the exception of Christmas Day, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are open year-round. Tour boats that leave from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan can take you to both locations.
While reservations are not normally required to enter the statue grounds, there are restrictions on entry to other sites. Reservations are therefore frequently required. The official boat operator to Liberty and Ellis islands, Statue Cruises, must take them online or over the phone. There are audio tours available.
Come as early as possible. “The early boats allow you to visit the islands before the crowds increase,” explains Jerry Willis, a representative for the National Park Service.
To reach the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, visitors travel by boat from New York or New Jersey.
How to Visit the Statue of Liberty’s Crown
Get a ticket to Lady Liberty’s 80-meter-tall crown for the ultimate Statue of Liberty experience. It is the highest point on the monument that can be reached and provides expansive vistas over Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Lower Manhattan.
There are very few tickets available for Crown. There are just a few hundred available each day, and they usually sell out months in advance throughout the summer and on holidays. Each order may only have a maximum of four tickets reserved. Those that visit the crown have to be physically capable of climbing the 377 steps. Youngsters need to be 1.2 meters tall or taller.
Going to the Liberty Island Museum and Pedestal
Liberty Island Museum and the pedestal are accessible with a crown ticket. If you are unable to obtain seats for the crown, you might still be able to purchase tickets for the pedestal and museum. (And at Statue Cruises ticket booths, a few pedestal tickets are made available every day.)
The 47-meter-high pedestal, which is reachable by elevator and sits right beneath Lady Liberty’s feet, provides lovely views of Ellis Island, Lower Manhattan, and New Jersey. Willis advises allotting a minimum of half an hour for the museum, which delves into the statue’s past and its changing significance.
Lastly, grounds-only tickets are typically accessible even in the event that pedestal tickets aren’t. Willis suggests taking long walks on the public promenades that border Ellis and Liberty islands. “You get breathtaking views,” he remarks.
If you merely want to see the monument from the ocean, board the free Staten Island Ferry. All monument Cruises ships stop at Ellis Island, and your ticket includes entrance to the National Museum of Immigration, which features exhibits focused on the history of immigration to the United States and the past of the island.
Ellis Island was usually the first stop for immigrants to the USA during the first half of the 20th century.
Which Season Is Ideal for Travel?
Though it’s up for debate, Willis likes the fall. By then, the heat should have subsided along with the summertime throngs, which is crucial if you’re planning to ascend to the summit.