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Ellis Island

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.0 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #21 of 1,334 attractions in New York City
Traveler Description: You need to get there early. Catch the first ferry to the Statue of Liberty  and look around. After that you can catch another ferry to Ellis Island... more »
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Attraction type: History museum, Historic site, Island, Other
Activities: Group tours/walking tour, Walking
Address: New York Harbor New York City, NY 10017
Tel: 212 363 3206

TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Ellis Island

( 1-10 of 60 )
Nov 8, 2008

As mixed reviews on here would warn, it is a bit of a hit and miss. The real feel of the (not so distant) history is great in this place and although I agree with previous comment that displays are quite amateurish (obviously, aimed at amusing hordes of badly behaved school children that seem to be everywhere and positively encouraged... more

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1 of 5 stars
Kansas City, MO
Oct 30, 2008

Ellis Island was a disappointment. If you go, get the audio tour, but even so the displays and presentation are amateurish and pretty boring. This should have been done as a living history museum like Connor Prairie in Indiana or the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in NYC. The National Park Service is not doing a good job. Once you... more

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3 of 5 stars
burlingame
Oct 29, 2008

Went to Ellis Island to see the plaque with my husband's name inscribed. Thanks to Lee Iacocca there are 700,000 immigrant names inscribed on the plaques outside the rear doors. This is a tribute not only to those who came to America through Ellis Island but to all who came to our shores looking for liberty and a better life.... more

Oct 19, 2008
2/2 found this review helpful

Bought our tickets in advance online and took the earliest ferry possible to Statue of Liberty then on to Ellis Island, only waited in line for about 20 minutes to start boarding the ferry. Look for the big white tent along the shore to board the ferry. Ellis Island was great WITH THE AUDIO TOUR. I bet it would have... more

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2 of 5 stars
Whitehaven, United Kingdom
Sep 26, 2008
0/3 found this review helpful

Well, it had to be done I couldn't go to New York without going to Liberty and Ellis Island. Anyway I've done it but won't do it again I'm into genealogy and Ellis Island interested me, but what a let down. The way you are treat by the people on the ferries is disgusting I know now what those people... more

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4 of 5 stars
Chicago, IL
Aug 17, 2008
6/6 found this review helpful

I am thankful I read reviews here before we went- we did arrive early- 9AM we were in line and we breezed through. We bought the flex pass b/c we didn't know how long it would take us to get there and it worked out fine. It was about 5 minutes if even that to go through everything including security... more

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3 of 5 stars
Jönköping
Aug 17, 2008
1/2 found this review helpful

I think this museum get publicity because it is one of few museums in NYC. The ferry to get there is terrible. The security check is worse than most airports and the lines takes forever. But you get a view of the city and Statue of Liberty on the way. Once there, it is not bad but not much to... more

Jul 29, 2008
3/3 found this review helpful

I am from the UK and don't have any relatives who passed through Eliis Island, however I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. We did the free Staten Island Ferry and thought it was too far away from the Statue to get any decent pictures so we paid our money and hopped on the ferry quite early in the day, we... more

Jul 24, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

I have always heard this is a must see when in New York. This is nothing like the Statue of Liberty. I think it would be better if you knew the heritage of your family to look up. Otherwise I thought it was pretty but not a whole lot to do. more

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5 of 5 stars
San Antonio, TX
Jul 22, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

This attraction is a must see historical site in NYC. While the restoration has only occurred on the main part of the island, the exhibits and site are very educational. Might be boring for young children. more

Reviews of Ellis Island

( 1-10 of 60 )
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Ellis Island: Management Resources

Ellis Island Address

New York Harbor, New York City, NY 10017
Tel: 212 363 3206