Early Access Statue of Liberty Tour & Ellis Island Access

This Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour is the perfect way to learn about the history of European immigration to America, while visiting one of the country's most iconic national symbols.

Your day begins early with pre-reserved ferry tickets, getting you onto one of the first ferries heading to Liberty Island - that means that during your Statue of Liberty Tour, you'll beat the worst of the crowds and be one of the first groups to reach the Statue*! Your guide will lead you on a tour of the island, telling you the story of how the statue came into the world (the project almost coming to ruin numerous times).

You'll take in beautiful views of New York Harbor and stand in awe beneath Lady Liberty herself with access to the base grounds, before it's on to the stunning new state-of-the-art Statue of Liberty Museum where you'll have time to take in some incredible displays about the building of Lady Liberty, and to see some of her most striking artifacts - including her original torch!

For the second part of the tour you'll take the ferry with your guide over to Ellis Island, for a deep dive into the history of American immigration. Ellis Island was the first place that some 12 million European immigrants set foot on American soil, though as you'll learn on your tour, not all of them went further. Hear stories of second chances and heartbreak, new lives begun and families torn apart, as you see famous parts of Ellis Island's processing centers (now a Museum) like the "Stairs of Separation" and the famous "Kissing Post".

When your tour ends you are free to hop back on the ferry with your guide, and return to Battery Park; or you can continue your exploration of Ellis Island. The museum here is one of the most interesting in NYC; extremely well-curated with video and audio content, and interactive displays. It also includes a special section to help visitors locate the records of any ancestors that were processed here.

*Please note that early access only applies to tours before 10am

**Until March 31st 2020 this tour includes special access to the Statue Pedestal