They come from all over the world to line up in Battery Park for a boat ride into New York Harbor. It’s all to visit a big piece of New York and American History.

Marcella Mehlmann, of Forest Hills, Queens recently took her first ever-trip to Ellis Island with a tour group.

“I’ve passed it, but never been there. I don’t know what held me back. I have no idea,” said Mehlmann, who was raised in Brooklyn. 

What You Need To Know

  • Extended summer hours are back at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

  • Starting Memorial Day weekend, the sites will have the longest hours of operation since before the pandemic

  • Statue City Cruises is the authorized ticket seller for ferries to both islands

As the ferry passed by the statue, Mehlmann couldn’t help but look up. It was the closest she ever was to Lady Liberty. 

“It’s so beautiful. She is gorgeous,” Mehlmann said. 

It’s all part of the experience of visiting the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island National Immigration Museum, operated by the National Park Service.

Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ferry ticket seller for both, with departure points in Battery Park and Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Summer extended hours return effective Memorial Day weekend, the longest hours of operation since before the pandemic.

“First departure will be at 9 a.m. We will operate roughly about every 20 to 25 minutes out of New York departure point up until 5 p.m. Once you are on the island, you will have roughly until about 6:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. depending on the island that you're on,” said Rafael Abreu, vice president of sales and marketing for Statue City Cruises. 

There’s a lot to see at both locations, like the Statue of Liberty and the museum on Liberty Island, where visitors can see the original torch, which was replaced in the 1980s. Visitors are recommended to plan ahead if they want to make the trek up to the crown.

The pedestal is a little easier to get to. On Ellis Island, where 12 million immigrants passed through for processing from 1892 to 1954, visitors can see the registry room known as the great hall, or look for family names on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Visitors are recommended to leave plenty of time for all of these activities. 

“Plan for a good four to five hours to visit both islands. That includes your transit time on the vessel, and then a full visit on either Ellis and Liberty,” Abreu said.

Statue City Cruises tickets to the island are available on their website and at the Castle Clinton ticket booth in Battery Park. Abreu noted visitors should beware of scammers roaming at entry points to the park trying to sell tickets that will not allow access to the islands.