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Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island Museum Reimagined

Ellis Island's Next Chapter

The Foundation is underway on a multi-year project to revitalize the museum for the 21st century. The visitor experience will be transformed with  

  • The addition of dozens of interactives and films  
  • Preservation of artifacts and the historic building 
  • Creation of new public spaces for events and education programs. 
  • A reimagined Records Discovery Center with an expanded Arrival Records Collection 
  • A more welcoming, comfortable museum with free Wi-Fi, improved accessibility, and better heating and A/C systems 

Become a Steward
of Ellis Island

Join us in reimagining Ellis Island to tell the larger story of American immigration by adding your name to the Stewards Manifest.

Steward Level ($18.92)
Every contributor who gives at least $18.92 will be permanently recognized with their giving level in the digital Stewards Manifest, located online and in the historic Baggage Room at Ellis Island. Your gift of $18.92 represents the opening year of the nation’s first federal immigration station.

Stewards Medallion – Benefactor Level ($35)
This limited-edition copper coin is made from the same material as Lady Liberty herself and echoes the red bricks of the Main Building at Ellis Island.

Golden Door Medallion – Champion Level ($62) or above
This golden brass coin honors the special connection between Liberty and Ellis Islands, the 62 years that Ellis served as a U.S. immigration station, and your enormous impact as a Steward of the museum.

For information about making a leadership gift and other recognition opportunities email ContactUs@LibertyEllisFoundation.org.

Become a Steward
Past & Present on Ellis Island

Restoring A Landmark

More than 30 years ago, to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Ellis Island Immigration Station, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation restored the spectacular Main Immigration Building and created a museum to tell the stories of those who passed through its halls in search of a better life.

Millions of Visitors

The Museum has welcomed more than 50 million visitors – from Ellis Island Immigrants and their families to school groups, history lovers, academics, and countless others simply interested in learning about our country’s unique immigration story. The Foundation’s Ellis Island Museum Reimagined campaign is an opportunity to create a 21st-century museum experience for the 21st-century visitor. 

The Future of Ellis Island

Interactive and Immersive Experiences

The museum will feature more than 50 new media pieces. Soundscapes, immersive films, and interactive touchscreens and tableaus will take visitors on a journey through time and place.

Immigration Timeline

A timeline weaves through the building, tying together exhibits across three floors and hundreds of years of immigration history.

Records Discovery Center

The Foundation will renovate and expand the existing family history center. New exhibit space, a mini-theater, and a green screen will welcome visitors, and the number of public research stations will increase by 50 percent. The arrival records database will more than double with the addition of records from ports of entry across the U.S. The expanded Records Discovery Center will allow millions more to participate in the emotional journey of unearthing and connecting to family history. 

Expanded Wall of Honor

In June 2024, in honor of National Immigrant Heritage Month, the first phase of renovations included the expansion of The American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Originally unveiled in 1990, the Wall of Honor celebrates the immigrant journey – from those who arrived on our shores centuries ago to recent arrivals – and currently includes nearly one million inscriptions etched across more than 770 panels. 

New Self-Guided/Audio Tours

New self-guided tours in 12 languages—included with the ferry ticket—will offer American Sign Language (ASL) tours, a family-friendly tour for children ages 6-10, and a descriptive audio tour for visitors who are blind or with low vision.

Public Spaces and Structural Upgrades

New lounge seating near the entrance, Wi-Fi throughout the museum, and remodeled restrooms are among the public space upgrades. Essential building and systems improvements include life/safety, HVAC, and electrical.

Donation question?

Email:
ContactUs@LibertyEllisFoundation.org

Call: (212) 561-4588