What is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the USA. It was built by Gustave Eiffel to designs by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and constructed on Liberty Island in the Upper New York Bay in 1886. Ellis Island is about half a mile away and was the point of immigration between 1892 until 1954 for 12 million people that entered the USA.
What is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island like?
I can honestly say that one of the most mind-blowing moments of my life was standing in the crown of the Statue of Liberty and looking down on the book she holds in her hand (it shows the date of Independence Day). The statue is an iconic symbol and site that doesn't disappoint when you see it up-close. Seeing the statue from the boat is good, walking around it is incredible, and going inside and up to the crown is an mind-blowing experience that is both unsettling and not-to-be-missed. The Ellis Island museum is fascinating - the Great Hall where immigrants were processed is an incredibly evocative place. You can really imagine what it was like to arrive after a long journey full of hope and trepidation.
Where is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?
New York, USA
When did we go?
I went in July 2009 with Pete - we toured the bay on a boar and visited the museum. I went back in 2019 with my sister and we stopped at the statue and went into the crown on a pre-booked ticket.
How did we get there?
Pete and I stayed in New York for 3 days and saw the Empire State Building (200) as well. My sister and I also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (295) and the National September 11 Museum and Memorial (316).
Worth noting
You can join a boat trip that takes you to both locations. Only 240 people per day are allowed to climb to Liberty's crown. 1,000 tickets per day are issued for access to the pedestal.
What was the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island's position in the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist 2015 edition:
144. It indefensibly dropped an inexplicable 243 places. Shocking.
Does the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island deserve its place in the 2020 top 500?
The biggest error in this whole book is the low ranking of the Statue of Liberty. It's probably the most iconic figure in the world! Should be top 50 at least!
