Ellis Island, New York

By | June 9, 2022

Ellis Island (New York, USA) — description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.

The place from which America itself actually began – multiethnic and free, Ellis’s “island of hopes and tears” is located at the mouth of the Hudson River, in New York Harbor and is the first and largest point for receiving immigrants in the United States. The first visitor crossed the threshold of his Immigration Service Center in 1892, the last – in 1954, during which time the ancestors of more than 40% of modern Americans “marked” here. Therefore, it is not surprising that the island is sacred to the heart of every US citizen and is considered one of the main attractions of the States. Today, an extensive and very interesting Immigration Museum operates here, from here you can admire the Statue of Liberty on the neighboring island and appreciate what America has become over the past 1.5 centuries, looking at the slender line of Manhattan skyscrapers. See itypetravel for geostatistics of New Hampshire.

A bit of history and geography

Ellis Island occupies about 11 hectares and is located 1 km south of Manhattan in New York Bay. Once there was a small sandy spit on which the indigenous population of these places mined oysters, but during the construction of the New York subway, excavated soil began to be exported here, thanks to which a full-fledged island appeared. The beginning of commercial activity on the island was laid by the merchant Samuel Ellis, who opened in the 1770s. a tavern for the local fish catchers. 30 years later, his descendants sell the territory to the state of New York, which retains the historical name of the island. In 1814, the first large wave of immigrants arrived here, but the state immigration center opened here only in 1892. In 1900, the center received its own building, which now houses the Museum of Immigration.

In the central lobby of the museum, visitors are greeted by an interactive panel “The American Flag in Faces”, where every American – a descendant of immigrants – can upload their photo.

What to watch

The Immigration Museum is Ellis Island’s main attraction. It occupies the main building of the US Immigration Services Center, an elegant French Renaissance building built in the early 20th century by Boring & Tilton and crowned with 4 copper domes. The expositions of the museum occupy more than 9000 sq. m, which presents about 2,000 exhibits and 1,500 audio, video and photo documents, and is dedicated not only to the history of Ellis Island, but also to the migration of peoples in the United States and on the planet as a whole.

In the central lobby of the museum, visitors are greeted by an interactive panel “The American Flag in Faces”, where every American – a descendant of immigrants – can upload their photo. Following the instructions of the audio guide, you will get the opportunity to explore the path of the first visitors: find yourself in the distribution room, undergo a medical examination and find out your future fate: where will you go – to the glitter of Manhattan or to the railway station, from where you will be sent to anywhere in the United States. In the hall dedicated to world migrations, there is an interactive globe that displays the routes of human history. The American Settlement Hall will tell about the migrants of 1550-1890, and the modern halls will tell about immigration after 1954.

You should definitely pay attention to the American Wall of Honor – the names of more than 700 thousand immigrants are imprinted on copper plates, and its replenishment continues.

Practical Information

Admission to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum is included in the Statue Cruises ferry ticket with the Statue of Liberty. Ticket price – from 18.50 to 21.50 USD. Ferries depart every 30-45 minutes from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Battery Park Pier. The audio guide is included in the ticket price.

Madison Avenue

Madison Avenue (New York, USA) — description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.

Madison Avenue, famous for its fashionable shops, runs north from 23rd Street towards the Bronx, with which it is connected by a bridge. This street in Manhattan is named after the fourth President of the United States, James Madison.

Madison Avenue does not have a serial number, unlike the neighboring Fifth and Fourth (Park Avenue), as it was laid after the adoption of the master plan for New York.

At the end of the century before last – the beginning of the last century, the street was known for the offices of advertising agencies located on it, many of which are still here today. Therefore, the street has become a household name for the American advertising industry. In modern times, Madison Avenue, like neighboring Fifth Avenue, is known for its luxury shopping. But at the same time, Madison is dominated by small mansions, not huge shops.

At the end of the century before last – the beginning of the last century, the street was known for the offices of advertising agencies located on it, many of which are still here today.

Important sights of Madison Avenue (in addition to boutiques, of course) include the Life Insurance Building and the Madison Square Garden sports arena. The first is located at 51 Madison Avenue. The skyscraper was built in 1928 by architect C. Gilbert. Today, as then, the headquarters of the life insurance company is located here.

At the intersection of Madison Avenue and 26th Street is the famous sports arena Madison Square Garden, built in the late nineteenth century. The sports complex is home to teams such as the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Knicks (NBA).

Ellis Island, New York