Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Following the restoration in the 1980's, the Main Building reopened in 1990 as the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, a symbol of America's immigrant heritage. The museum exhibits chronicle Ellis Island's role in immigration history and view it in the context of its time and the still broader context of four centuries of immigration to America.

The exhibits also portray and give voice to the immigrants themselves. Each of their stories is unique and bears witness to the courage and determination that enables men and women to leave their homes and seek new opportunities in an unknown land.

These exhibits occupy over 40,000 sq.ft. on three floors of the Main Building; they include museum objects, photographs, prints, videos, interactive displays and oral histories. The largest exhibit is the building itself — the imposing French Renaissance Revival structure designed by Boring and Tilton, built in 1900 and restored to its 1918-1924 appearance.

American Immigrant Wall of Honor®
A popular exhibit at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. The Wall of Honor is located outdoors, just outside the "Peopling of America" exhibit. The Wall honors America's immigrants regardless of when they immigrated or through which port they entered. The Wall is currently inscribed with over 700,000 names, and registrations are currently being accepted for a new phase of the Wall. To have a name inscribed on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, click here.

American Family Immigration History Center® (AFIHC)
Opened on April 17, 2001, this new family history research facility contains the ship passenger records of the over 25 million people who entered through the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892-1924, the peak years of immigrant processing at Ellis Island. Visitors are able to access 11 fields of digitized information, as well as view and obtain reproductions of original ship manifests and photos of ships of passage. To prepare for a search, visitors should gather as much information as they can, such as: the passenger's first and last names; approximate year of arrival; "ethnicity" (which may include race, nationality, and religion); approximate age on arrival; ship of travel; port of departure; and whether the passenger traveled with other family members. Search Passenger Records Now.

Ellis Island Living Theater presents...
”Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story"

Due to popular demand, “Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story” will reopen at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum’s intimate Living Theater for a limited run beginning April 25 through September 5. The play, written by playwright and screenwriter Aurorae Khoo, portrays the immigrant experience of legendary movie actor Bela Lugosi—best known for his portrayal of Count Dracula—and features a reenactment of the Ellis Island inspection process. The show also includes contemporary immigrant characters.

Produced and funded by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., this 30-minute show will be presented seven times daily. Times are 10:45; 11:30; 12:15; 1:00; 2:30; 3:15; and 4:00. Admission is $6.00. Reservations are accepted for groups of 10 or more. Since the theater seats 56 people, some groups may have to schedule multiple shows. (Please note that the National Park Service, which administers Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, requires one chaperone for every ten students.) Individuals without reservations are encouraged to purchase their tickets upon entering the museum.

It is recommended that show-goers purchase Reserve Tickets for the ferry, which allow ticket holders priority entry to security check-in and saves wait time. Flex Tickets are also available. For ferry information, call 1-877-LADY TIX (1-877-523-9849) or visit (www.statuecruises.com). Due to security procedures, it is suggested that show-goers arrive one hour before their scheduled ferry departure from Battery Park in New York or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

For more information or to make reservations, contact The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation at 212-561-4500, ext. 0 or Theater@ellisisland.org.

To learn more about Bela Lugosi, please visit the actor’s website maintained by the Lugosi family at http://www.lugosi.com/.

The Performers employed in this production are members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Baggage Room (restored to its 1918-1924 appearance)
Thousands of immigrants crowded into this room on a daily basis where they could check their baggage before climbing the steps to the Registry Room.

Peopling of America® (restored to its 1918-1924 appearance)
Originally the Railroad Ticket Office, where immigrants could make travel arrangements to their final destinations in the United States, it now contains exhibits covering 400 years of immigration history.

Registry Room (restored to its 1918-1924 appearance)
The historic Great Hall, once filled with new arrivals waiting to be inspected and registered by immigration officers, now contains historic benches and reproduction inspector desks. Visitors can re-live the experience of 12 million people processed through this cavernous space.

Through America's Gate (restored to its 1911 appearance)
Exhibits illustrate the processing of immigrants at Ellis Island, includes the Special Inquiry Room, refurbished to 1911.

Peak Immigration Years
The history of immigration to the United States between 1880-1924.

Dormitory Room (3rd floor; restored and refurbished to its 1908 appearance)

Ellis Island Chronicles
Overview of the island's growth and development from prehistory to the closing of all island facilities in 1954.

Treasures from Home®
Cherished personal objects, photographs and papers brought from the homeland are on display.

Silent Voices
Photos and artifacts detail the immigrant station's closing and abandonment after 1954.

Restoring a Landmark
The largest historic restoration in U.S. history, funded and directed by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation from 1985-1990, transformed the ruins into a national museum of immigration

Hearing Room
Officially known as the Board of Special Inquiry, this room in 2 West has been carefully restored to its appearance during the years 1908-1911. Immigrants not passing inspection would have a final opportunity to have their case overturned in one of three hearing rooms at Ellis Island. Re-enactments of actual cases are performed in this historic space.

Temporary Exhibits

"A Century of Hope:"
November 24, 2008 – April 12, 2009.

On June 2, 2008 President Bush signed a law naming the Ellis Island Library, the “Bob Hope Memorial Library,” after one of the best known Americans to have passed through Ellis Island. This exhibit provides a brief glimpse at the life and career of Bob Hope, as well as the role that immigrants played in early twentieth century entertainment.

Beginning with Bob Hope’s life in England and the immigration of the Hope family to America in 1908, the exhibit explores his career as a comedian, actor, dancer and singer. It also focuses on the entertainment Hope provided to our service men and women for nearly six decades, beginning in World War II and continuing through Operation Desert Storm.

Baggage Room - First Floor