Ellis Island

Ellis Island

Maybe it was your grandmother, or perhaps your great-grandfather: with approximately 12 million immigrants processed on Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, it's possible your ancestors passed through the famous immigrant station on their way to a new life in America. Over a century later, Ellis Island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. If your ancestors came to the U.S. before 1897, however, it would have been to an entirely different building — one made of pine that caught fire and was replaced by the existing French Renaissance-style building in 1900.

Ellis Island is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, despite the Statue's location on a different island about a half mile south. In 1990, the main building was opened as the Ellis Island Immigrant Museum. There are plenty of activities to choose from on the island and in the museum. Free genealogy workshops are offered from March to October, while ship manifests and a database of family names and meanings are available year-round. Visitors can take a rubbing of family names on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, the largest wall of names in the world.

Kids will find plenty to do during their visit, as well. They can enjoy a 30-minute interactive play, Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi's Ellis Island Story. The performance costs $6 and shows throughout the day. Pick up an Ellis Island Junior Ranger program, which provides children activities to complete while exploring the island. Picnic space is available throughout the property.

Be prepared to go through security before boarding the ferry that takes you to the island. It's similar to airport security and can take just as long.

- Callie Worsham