U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Immigration Officers at Port of Entry (circa 1924)

PROGRAMS AT ELLIS ISLAND

FREE Ranger-Guided Tours: A National Park Service Ranger or a dedicated Volunteer-in-the-Park lead walking tours of the museum. The tours are approximately 45 minutes and are accessible for handicapped visitors.

Tours chronicle island history and explain what many immigrants experienced at the facility during its busiest years of operation. Tours depart from the information desk on the top of the hour. The numbers of tours offered vary based upon daily staffing levels. TICKETS ARE NOT REQUIRED for walking tours.

FREE Ferry Building Tour: This free one-hour program is conducted in the building that was reopened in 2007 after undergoing restoration. The exhibit entitled "Future In Balance: Immigration, Public Health and the Ellis Island Hospitals" chronicles the story of the United States Public Health Service, its employees and immigrants treated for a variety of illnesses. Visitors must sign up for the program as spaced is limited. Tours are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and some weekends at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM - volunteer staffing levels permitting.

For additional information, call Save Ellis Island, the National Park Service partner entrusted for the rehabilitation and reuse of the unrestored hospitals at 973-347-8400 ext 17.   

Audio Tours are also available. These tours take visitors through the Ellis Island Immigration Museum exhibit galleries.

Adult audio tours are available in Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.

We also have children's audio tours- specially designed for ages 6-10 with animal character narrators.

The children's tours are available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. 

The cost is $8.00 per adult, $7.25 for seniors and children 12 years and under.