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Ellis Island occupies a physical and emotional location no other historic site can match. Ellis Island provides multiple lenses on culture, race, memory and history, through which an American drama of passage, uncertainty and optimism can be better understood.

Ellis Island is hauntingly beautiful. The architecture is magnificent, the views are unparalleled, and the history is palpable. It is the center of global immigration in the harbor of one of the world’s iconic cities. It is a timeless place that personally touches all of us, because all of us have an immigration story.

From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off the New Jersey coast, within the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. Through the years, this gateway to the new world was enlarged from its original 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres mostly by landfill obtained from ship ballast and possibly excess earth from the construction of the New York City subway system.

Congratulations to Peg Breen, the staff and Trustees  of the New York Landmarks Conservancy for 45 years of helping to preserve New York’s architectural heritage.  Ms. Breen, President of the Conservancy and Board Member of Save Ellis Island, Inc. has been instrumental in assisting Save Ellis Island and the National Park Service with stabilization and preservation efforts on the south side of Ellis Island.

French street artist JR awakens history with his ‘Unframed – Ellis Island’ Exhibition. The tour and exhibition provide an immersive visual and sensory experience loaded with historical significance. It is not to be missed! ~ Rachael Silverstein, The Culture Trip

The work, which is accessible by guided tour, will remain up “until it decides to disappear.” 

From a distance, many of the buildings appear to be in pretty decent shape, especially considering they’ve essentially been left to decay since the island officially closed in 1954. 

Ellis Island – Parents, children and anyone in the holiday spirit are welcome to attend a book reading and book signing by author Maxinne Rhea Leighton of her beloved children’s book An Ellis Island Christmas (Viking Penguin), a book for children about immigration, recipient of the Marion Vannett Ridgeway Award. This free event will take place on Saturday, December 9, 2017 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm in the Eastern National Ellis Island bookstore located at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, 1st floor.