Have you ever wanted to visit New York but you just weren’t sure what to do? There are so many things to do in this state that you simply couldn’t choose where to even begin. Do you see a play? Do you visit NBC Studios? Do you take a carriage ride through Central Park? How could you ever decide on what to do if you were to visit this outstanding place? If you would like help choosing, perhaps you could visit Ellis Island. It is located at the mouth of the Hudson River in the New York Harbor. You might be interested to know that Ellis Island was the main spot for immigrants to come during the period of 1892 until 1954. It is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and it is under the jurisdiction of the US National Park Service. There is so much to do in NY, but Ellis Island is truly one of a kind. Its history and beauty are enough to capture you for a while so please check it out on your upcoming New York vacation.

A tug-of-war between states

If you would like a little bit of background information then you may want to know that Ellis Island was part of a huge border argument between New Jersey and New York. The island was mainly produced by a landfill procedure and it covers 32 acres of land. Over 83% of this land area is located in New Jersey, so it’s easy to see why they would want to claim is as their own. On the other hand, the natural segment of the island can be found in New York which is surrounded by the artificial segment, so this is why New York wanted to claim it. Come see what all of this means when you visit Ellis Island on your next trip.

What’s in a name?

The name for Ellis Island comes from a man named Samuel Ellis. Ellis owned the island during the 1700s and he also owned a tavern here which served fisherman and sailors. Ellis was a merchant and a farmer and that is how the name came to be. There was an immigration station set up in 1892 and over 12 million immigrants were inspected here before its closure in 1954. Ellis Island became the first stop for many immigrants coming from Europe. It was a great success and a great help to those who wished to make a better life for themselves. Ellis Island is now home to a museum that you can reach by ferry. The island is known as “the Isle of Tears” and “Heartbreak Island” because of the 2% of people that weren’t allowed in when they crossed the Atlantic to get here. Don’t forget to take your camera so you can get a picture of the Statue of Liberty from the island.

Where they got their start

There have been many famous and distinguished immigrants to have come from Ellis Island. Some of these people include Bob Hope, Max Factor, Charlie Chaplin and Irving Berlin. Also from the island are Chef Boyardee, the Trapp Family Singers, Michael Romanoff and Charles Atlas. There have also been many famous films that have worked here including “Hitch” with Will Smith, “Golden Door”, “The Godfather Part II” and “X-Men”. If you are interested in coming to New York, make sure to visit Ellis Island. Be sure to check out the amazing museum, as well.