5/5 Oliver S (. 1 year ago on Google
On
any
tour
of
New
York
City's
highlights
Liberty
Island
always
gets
top
billing
with
Ellis
Island
often
being
more
of
a
side
trip
or
footnote.
I
had
the
same
view
myself
but
having
visited
both
now
I'd
argue
Ellis
Island
deserves
at
least
equal
time
and
attention
on
your
trip.
Yes,
Lady
Liberty
is
iconic,
but
while
she's
the
symbol
of
the
United
States'
history
as
a
nation
of
immigrants,
the
story
is
better
told
through
the
more
mundane
buildings
and
artifacts
of
her
neighboring
island.
Through
the
gates
of
Ellis'
main
building
flowed
thousands
of
souls
hoping
for
a
transition
from
one
way
of
life
to
another
just
like
thousands
still
do
today.
Some
would
face
rejection
but
many
more
would
be
welcomed
into
a
growing
nation,
and
each
one
had
a
story
to
tell.
You
get
a
glimpse
of
those
stories
in
the
wide
variety
of
museum
exhibits
chronicling
both
the
well-known
episodes
of
immigration
-
such
as
the
Irish
diaspora
due
to
the
potato
famine
of
the
1800s
-
to
the
utterly
obscure,
like
the
handful
of
Filipino
galleon
sailors
who
escaped
their
lot
by
fleeing
to
Louisiana
in
1765,
centuries
before
the
Filipino
people's
own
global
diaspora.
Beyond
the
main
building's
museum
there
are
lovely
grounds
to
walk
around
in
and
take
in
gorgeous
views
of
Manhattan
and
New
York
Harbor.
After
a
long
day
walking
around
both
islands
the
tree-shaded
benches
were
a
welcome
break.
While
walking
about
you
can
also
get
an
idea
from
signs
scattered
about
of
the
less
famous
history
of
Ellis
Island
as
a
former
military
outpost
predating
its
time
as
an
immigration
station.
Overall,
Ellis
Island
is
a
great
experience
for
anyone
with
an
appreciation
for
history
and
hours
will
fly
by
quickly
until
you
inevitably
have
to
take
that
ferry
ride
back
to
the
city.
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