• Immigrants awaiting inspection in front of Ellis Island's Main Building

    Ellis Island

    Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument NJ,NY

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  • Ellis Island Closed Until Further Notice

    As of May 2013: Due to the conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will be closed until further notice. A projected reopening date has not yet been established, follow our twitter account for updates. More »

Traveling Trunks

Contents of Park-in-a-Pack

Contents of Park-in-a-Pack.

National Park Service

"Park-in-a-Pack" (Grades 4-8)

Due to our closure, kit will not be available until further notice. Please check back here for updates or contact the Education Specialist directly at: Katherine_Craine@nps.gov


In the meanwhile, have you considered a Virtual Field Trip to Ellis Island?

Coming to America: Ellis Island was presented as a LIVE WEBCAST, March 29, 2012. Scholastic and the National Park Service encourage you to explore the website and watch the recorded version.

Ellis Island's National Park Service "Traveling Trunk" is called "Park-in-a-Pack."

Students can experience aspects of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty without ever leaving the classroom with "Park-in-a-Pack." This on-loan curriculum-based traveling educational kit contains a teaching guide, four videos, numerous educational activities, and worksheets and evaluation sheets for classroom use.

Terms & Conditions:

  • Teachers/districts must pay return shipping of the nine (9) lb. Park-in-a-Pack box (via FedEx Express Saver; contact FedEx for shipping cost estimate) to:

    National Park Service, Attn: Education Department
    Ellis Island Receiving Office
    Jersey City, New Jersey 07305

  • Teachers must agree that their $100.00 deposit may be forfeited if anything is damaged or not returned.

Download the Park-in-a-Pack Application Form and return it via U.S. Mail. Our fax line remains out of service due to Sandy.

Contact the Education Specialist with questions at: Katherine_Craine@nps.gov

Did You Know?

resized black_tom Saturday Evening Post

On July 30, 1916, a major explosion at the railway terminals on the Black Tom Wharf in Jersey City did considerable damage to the Ellis Island buildings. The walls, ceilings, roofs and foundations of the hospital buildings were weakened, and many windows, casings and doors were blown out. The repairs to the facilities took about a year at a cost of nearly $400,000.00(about $8,333,333.33 in 2012).