Through exhibits, photos, oral histories, and personal artifacts, the restored museum reflects the experience of the millions who passed through its halls. It is reported that 40 percent of Americans trace their ancestry to a relative processed here, and you can search for names in the history center database.
At Liberty Island, you need a time pass to enter the monument, and there is no access beyond the top of the pedestal.
Access to both venues is free, but the ferry is not. Reserve tickets in advance, especially during busy vacation and holiday seasons. When Battery Park reservations are full, tickets from Liberty State Park in New Jersey are often available. A PATH train, light rail, and shuttle bus lead to the dock, and you can return by ferry to Manhattan.
Favorite feature: Listen to voices of immigrants relating tales of their experiences between 1906-23.
Free admission. Ferries from Battery Park, 212-363-3200, nps.gov/stli. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Adult fare and age 13 and over $12, seniors $10, ages 4-10 $5. Buy tickets at statuecruises.com or 877-523-9849.
