| She's one of the country's most recognized | | | | fort, a hanging site for pirates, and an ammunition |
| women and she has aged gracefully since her | | | | and ordinance depot named Fort Gibson. |
| arrival in 1886. Lighting the way for immigrants, | | | | During its sixty-two years of operation, Ellis Island |
| visitors, and travelers, the Statue of Liberty was | | | | processed more than 12 million immigrant |
| presented to the United States by France in | | | | steamship passengers. The very first immigrant |
| commemoration of the country's centennial and | | | | to arrive at Ellis Island was Annie Moore, a |
| as a gesture of friendship from France. Student | | | | 15-year-old Irish girl, traveling with her two |
| group travelers who make the journey to see | | | | brothers. Coincidently, it was also Annie's birthday |
| her are rewarded with a new sense of citizenship | | | | and under the watchful eyes of immigration |
| and pride. | | | | officials, Superintendent Colonel John Weber |
| Standing at Liberty Island, the statue has served | | | | presented Annie with a $10 gold Liberty coin. |
| as the ultimate symbol of a new life, freedom, | | | | Other notable immigrants processed through Ellis |
| and opportunity for all who have gazed upon her. | | | | Island include Frank Capra, Irving Berlin, Max |
| From 1886 until the early 1950's, she was often | | | | Factor, and Bob Hope. |
| one of the first glimpses of the United States for | | | | Thirty years after its closing the main building was |
| millions of immigrants when their voyage from | | | | restored and reopened in 1990 as a museum. |
| Europe arrived in New York. | | | | Designed as a self-guided museum, it has three |
| Sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, funds for | | | | floors of displays and exhibits detailing the history |
| the construction of the Statue of Liberty were | | | | of the immigration process. For example, |
| raised through the sale of miniatures. Dressed in a | | | | "Buttonhooks," devices used by women to lace |
| robe and a halo of seven-point spiked rays, the | | | | and button their shoes and boots, provides |
| statue is made of a sheeting of pure copper, | | | | insights into public health service issues of the day. |
| hung on a framework of steel. The stone tablet | | | | Doctors used the devices to check immigrants |
| she holds in her right hand bears the world "JULY | | | | for a highly contagious, and difficult to cure, eye |
| IV MDCCLXXVI" (July 4, 1776), commemorating | | | | disease. |
| the date of the United States Declaration of | | | | Student visitors also view the movie, Island of |
| Independence. | | | | Hope, Island of Tears, an award-winning |
| Located on a 12-acre island, the Statue of Liberty | | | | documentary. Ellis Island was known as "Island of |
| National Monument is operated by the National | | | | Tears" or "Heartbreak Island" because two |
| Park Service. Student group travelers reach the | | | | percent of the immigrants were not admitted into |
| island by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Ferry | | | | the United States after their long transatlantic |
| system. A time pass reservation system allows a | | | | voyage. |
| limited number of visitors a day to visit the | | | | Each spring, visiting students can participate in a |
| monument. Visitors have access to the museum | | | | living history program of an actual immigrant |
| gallery and pedestal observation level. Since Sept. | | | | hearing conducted at Ellis Island. Audience |
| 11, 2001, full access to the monument has been | | | | participation decides the fate of the immigrant |
| restricted and there is no access beyond the | | | | standing before them. Viewing a theatrical |
| pedestal level. | | | | production based on actual immigrant accounts is |
| After visiting the statue, student group travelers | | | | also presented during the spring and summer |
| will find a fascinating study of American history at | | | | months. |
| Ellis Island, which served as the premier federal | | | | Audio tours and special ranger-guided tours of the |
| immigration station from 1892-1954. Ellis Island | | | | Ellis Island Museum can also be pre-scheduled. Free |
| acquired its name from Samuel Ellis, a colonial New | | | | genealogy workshops can be scheduled in |
| Yorker, possibly from Wales. | | | | collaboration with the National Archives for those |
| The island has a rich history before it became the | | | | interested in researching their family immigration |
| gateway to freedom. Initially, the local Indian tribes | | | | history. |
| called it Gull Island. Later, it served as a harbor | | | | |