Travel Destination | NYC Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island

While The Big Apple may be symbolic of New York City, the Statue of Liberty is undeniably one of the most iconic symbols of New York and the United States, as well as an incredibly popular tourist travel destination. Gifted to our country by France to commemorate the French-American alliance during the American Revolution, Lady Liberty rises in celebration of freedom and democracy. Attracting millions of NYC visitors from all around the world, this majestic symbol of freedom, democracy, and hope, stands on on Liberty Island in the New York Harbor. Also located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island functioned from 1892 to 1954 as the largest immigration processing center in the United States. It's estimated that more than 12 million immigrants have passed through Ellis Island with hopes of a new start in America. Currently, Ellis Island is a National Museum of Immigration allowing visitors to tour the restored immigration center to learn about the experiences of the millions of immigrants who visited the tiny island. We are thrilled to have collaborated with Statue City Cruises to experience the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the stunning cityscape skyline of New York City from the New York waterways.

Thank you to Statue City Tours and their promotional team for the courtesy of providing gratuitous media access for editorial purposes. This content may contain affiliate links.

Travel Destination | NYC Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island

Sailing with Statue City Cruises

Statue City Cruises offers roundtrip sailing with exceptional views of the scenic New York Harbor, including access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island for guided tours, self-paced sightseeing, and audio tours in 12 languages- Arabic, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Details are available for Family-friendly tours, American Sign Language (ASL) versions, and Audio Descriptive (AD) versions. The Statue of Liberty interior has fully reopened and reservations for Statue of Liberty Pedestal and Crown tickets are limited and recommended to be scheduled about two weeks prior to visiting.

Credit | Statue City Cruises

 

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Set sail Manhattan's Battery Park for one of Statue Cruises most popular tours featuring NYC's iconic sights while sailing to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Visitors experience the sights of the island grounds, museum, and with reservations access to the statue's pedestal or crown for a panoramic view of The Big Apple from the harbor.

Officially titled "Liberty Enlightening the World," this landmark monument was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Designed by French sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with metal framework built by Gustave Eiffel, also acclaimed for designing the Eiffel Tower in Paris was gifted from France to the United States. 

Artistically crafted from copper which has developed a distinctive green patina over the course of time, The Statue of Liberty stands 305 feet tall, including its pedestal. Lady Liberty represented as a woman raising a torch in her right hand for enlightenment and cradling a tablet in her left hand, inscribed with "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI", the date of the United States Declaration of Independence to symbolize the rule of law.

Welcoming new comers filled with hope for a better life, "The New Colossus" written by poet Emma Lazarus in 1883 is best known for its lines inscribed on Lady Liberty's pedestal- 

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

We especially enjoyed exploring the innovative, interactive displays in the Statue of Liberty Museum, opened in 2019. Learning about the statue's history, construction, and also includes a theater, interactive displays, and stunning views of the statue and the New York City skyline. Additional tickets are not necessary to visit the museum.

Credit | Statue City Cruises

Visit Ellis Island

Sailing ahead to Ellis Island to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, you have opportunities to learn more about the experiences of the millions of people that passed through the immigration station, trace your family history, and historic immigration exhibits dating back to the 1500s through present day.

History unfolded before us as we visited the American Family Immigration History Center. There's plenty to see while walking the grounds of Ellis Island, including The American Immigrant Wall of Honor, celebrating immigrants of all eras. Additional tickets are not necessary to visit the museum.

For an additional level of discovery, visitors are able to join a Hard Hat Tour (added fee) of Ellis Island’s Hospital Complex on the South Side of the island. Once operational to treat infirmities of new comers from overseas, this section has not been functional for decades and is a historic sight to see. 

Plan Your Visit

In addition to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour, Statue City Cruises also offers a variety of other tours and experiences, including harbor cruises, sunset cruises, and private charters. Sail away while enjoying food, drinks, and some tours also feature live music or entertainment on board.

For reservations and more details, visit Statue City Cruises

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