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Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty
For millions of people, this was the first glimpse of America.

By David Anderson


"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
One is a literal gateway to America; the other is a symbol of what the newcomers hoped to find in a new country. Together they create an indelible image of what the United States meant to the millions of immigrants who arrived on these shores in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

When immigration was still handled by the states, New York's processing station was at Castle Garden on the Battery. The federal immigration station on Ellis Island in New York harbor took over in 1892, with an Irish girl named Annie Moore being the first person processed there. That first center burned to the ground in 1897 and the current "fireproof" structures were completed in 1900.



Closed in 1954, the buildings deteriorated drastically until work in the 1980s restored the main building. It reopened in 1990 as a museum with exhibits and oral histories that reveal the very human face of the immigration experience.

Twelve million people were processed at Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, almost all of them from steerage or third class. (Those who could afford first- or second-class tickets were examined aboard ship.) While only two percent were turned back, the Ellis Island experience was tense and unforgettable.

The sight of the Statue of Liberty provided the first tangible proof they had indeed arrived in the United States.
For many immigrants, the sight of the Statue of Liberty provided the first tangible proof they had indeed arrived in the United States. It was intended as a gift from the people of France to celebrate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence, but fund-raising difficulties kept it from being dedicated until 1886. Designed by sculptor August Bartholdi and with an interior support structure by Gustav Eiffel, the statue, originally titled "Liberty Enlightening the World," measures 151 feet from base to torch. The pedestal, provided by the United States, is 154 feet tall.

The Statue of Liberty has become a symbol recognized the world over (and is responsible for hordes of tacky souvenirs and commercials). It must be seen in person to be truly appreciated. The strong of limb and lung can also climb the 354 steps up to the crown, but be warned—the wait can be as long as three hours during peak season.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both in New York Harbor and accessible only by ferry. Both are closed on Christmas. There is no admission charge to either, but visitors must purchase tickets for the ferries, which depart from Battery Park in New York and Liberty Park in New Jersey. For information about ferry schedules, call (212) 269-5755; for information about the sites call (212) 363-3200 or go to the National Park Service's web page at http://www.nps.gov/stli. For information about New York, call the New York Convention and Visitor's Bureau at (800) 692-8474.



David Anderson is Away.com's Africa travel specialist. He has gone on over sixty safaris in Africa and India.


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Photo: PhotoDisc
Image: Photo: PhotoDisc