The American Dream: Freedom and Immigration at The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Learn about the American Dream at the Statue of Liberty with a historian

$473

Private

N/A

Semi-private

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Tour Details

About the Tour

Private Tour: $ 473
Category: History, Excursions
Duration: 5 hours
Location: New York

Photos & Highlights

Connect the dots between cultures, communities, and continents as you examine the history of immigration in America
Led by a historian
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Tour Description

Icons of American liberty and freedom, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have long been a mainstay of the New York skyline and its history. Stretching back to the Dutch colonial settlement in the early seventeenth century, Ellis Island became a place known for both heartache and joy, processing over 12 million immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954, with Liberty Island standing as a beacon of hope for many of these immigrants. On this Statue of Liberty Tour visiting Ellis Island and Battery Park in the company of an art historian or preservationist, we’ll visit both islands to understand how the American ideal of freedom has changed over the years, and how immigration and cultural exchange have profoundly impacted the entire country.

Statue of Liberty Tour

Beginning in Battery Park, we’ll visit Castle Clinton, the first immigration processing station, in use from 1855 to 1890. Initially built to protect New York during the War of 1812, the fort was never actually used for this purpose, was re-named Castle Garden, and was subsequently converted turned into a theater. After the station was moved to Ellis Island in 1892, Castle Garden became the New York City Aquarium, in use until 1941, and later named a national monument. We’ll consider the Castle’s physical location on Manhattan as an immigration processing center, compared to Ellis Island, which is removed from the mainland.

The Statue of Liberty

We’ll jump on the ferry and make our next stop at Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty. Liberty Island, however, has a longer history, from its stint as a smallpox quarantine station, to the years when it was known as “Love Island”, to the construction of Fort Wood, the star shaped structure that still stands today. We’ll then move on to the statue herself: designed by Frenchman Gustave Eiffel and gifted to the US in 1886, the neoclassical statue has long been an icon of American freedom and liberty, standing guard at the entry to New York Harbor. We’ll consider the relationship between France and the United States at the time, and put into context the notions of liberty and freedom that were heavily associated with the United States internationally. We’ll hear about the Statue’s conception and construction, and the international efforts that went into funding the project. We’ll also hear about some of the surprising responses to the Statue’s unveiling, including a maritime protest from a group of suffragettes.

Onto Ellis Island

Together we’ll board the ferry and ride to Ellis Island. Situated just behind Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island represented a gateway to America and a promise of a better life for many immigrants. With the Manhattan skyline in the background, we’ll learn the long history of the island, named after colonial merchant Samuel Ellis and acquired by the state of New York in 1785. Visiting the beaux-arts building and museum, we’ll consider the egalitarian ideals embodied in the design of the extravagant public buildings, and with that context, learn about the often difficult process that immigrants encountered upon their arrival. We’ll also consider the role of the hospitals on Ellis Island and their impact on the history of public health and sanitation in the United States. We’ll also have an opportunity to research our family histories, and see if our ancestry can be traced to someone who came through Ellis Island, like roughly 40% of US citizens.

Take Aways

As we depart Ellis Island and head back to Manhattan, we will have learned the process through which many of America’s many early immigrants came to this country. We will have an idea of how the democratic ideals expressed in the US Constitution were received and understood in a historical context, and we’ll know a bit more about the history of the New York Harbor itself.

FAQ

Are there restrictions on what I can bring?
The Statue of Liberty does not allow selfie sticks, large bags, large bottles of water, tripods, and other large objects.

Is there a security check?
There is an airport-style security screening involving metal detectors, long lines and occasional questioning as a part of access to the Statue of Liberty. Clients with mobility issues may be eligible for an expedited security process.

Is the Statue of Liberty wheelchair-accessible?
Yes, the main pedestal area and museum are accessible to visitors with limited mobility.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Monica

Monica Valley is a media designer and an art historian, specializing in later twentieth century art. A popular teacher in New York museums and galleries, she is currently pursuing doctoral studies focusing on the early work of Robert Rauschenberg. Monica has programmed and led art study tours to India, Italy and Portugal, and is fluent in Portuguese.

Mandy

Mandy's passion for the environment, its health and history, and how humans interact with it, stems from her childhood spending time at Mammoth Cave National Park. She went on to study Anthropology, Archaeology, Geosciences, and Urban Restoration at the University of Cincinnati and New Jersey City University. After graduation she began seasonal work at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island NM as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service for two consecutive seasons where she conducted extensive historical research and gave tours daily. This led to working for the non-profit Save Ellis Island giving and developing public tours for the abandoned hospital complex on Ellis Island. Most recently she spent the 2016 season as a Park Ranger at Governors Island National Monument and will be there again in the coming 2017 season. She has spent countless hours volunteering with Liberty State Park, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and the National Park Service. Focusing most of her attention on New York Harbor. She is currently a member on the board of directors of The Friends of Liberty State Park, and volunteer with Breezy Point Historical Society.

Mitch

Mitch holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Philosophy from the University of Paris, Sorbonne. His passion for urban history began during his 7 years in Paris, where he worked in his spare time as a city guide and teacher of history and philosophy. His scholarly work has focused on theories of truth as they express themselves in art, literature and theology. Since moving to New York City 12 years ago, he has authored four books on east coast cities, and actively pursues his side-passions for composing classical music (he recently premiered his second opera), and photography (his work has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker and Time, amongst other

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10 Reviews

So we’ll organized. Our guide was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to be sure we had an enjoyable experience. We learned so much not just about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but also about the history of New York and the area. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Cathy

May. 4, 2019

Overall it was good

Michael

Mar. 27, 2019

I thought Ryan was great! He engaged with our teenagers well and presented the information in a relatable, digestible way.

Rachel

Jan. 6, 2019

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Tour Experts

All Context Experts are scholars or specialists in their field.

Monica

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Mandy

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Mitch

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