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Got to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty today. One of the places I never thought I’d go but I’m glad even in my current state of employment damn glad I took a chance and went. Notes:
We went on the NJ side, Liberty State Park (6 caches there as of today, I dnf’d 3 and gave up sheesh what a bad run, ended up with a ALARM to get NJ – Another LAme Restside Micro, it was in the description that way).
Left our hotel in nyack(not a misspelling) down the 287(amazing how little traffic there was at 930am) and made it to the noon boat, call ahead and get the timed passes to the inside of the statue..give at least a weeks notice.. we didnt get to go in. If you are a rail fan, the NJ side is based out of the original NJCRR depot. Very cool place to walk around.
Taking kids is challenging as at EI at ages 9 or less there isn’t much in their history lessons they can connect to when compared to the statue. Lots of over priced goodies to be bought and a expensive lunch counter. Be ready to blow 36 bucks for 4 people no matter what it is..that seemed like the magic number today.
Took a few pics before our digi cam took a dump, new batteries didnt help.. nothing worth posting. We walked around a lot, I stopped often and took in different vantage points of Manhattan. It was quite the powerful feeling to be standing on 2 islands that meant freedom for so many and looking at freedom lost for too many.
Definitely one of those places to go before you can’t anymore.
Been there done that. right in the neck of my past history. My parents stayed at the Ellis Island for a short period in 1920 .. and I had photos of the actual ship they come in on. In addition, now 88 years later my grand children always ask to visit there and the Statue of Liberty. Thanks so much for starting this thread . Whose parents came through Ellis Island… let’s hear from you. Lots of stories to tell, I’m sure.
…Two of my grandparents did, but the very best story I’ve ever heard is one told by my friend Yvonne Healy, another storyteller. Her great-uncle Con Healy went down to the ship to say farewell to his brothers, and was in the midst of telling a story when the whistles blew for all ashore. He refused to stop in the middle of a story, paid his passage, continued his story and many others, then signed in and out at Ellis Island before returning to Ireland. They thought it was only a family legend, believing that her father was the first one over, until Yvonne and her family visited themselves and found Con Healy’s stats in the record books there, matching the legend perfectly. Literally here one day, gone the next!
I honestly cannot do the story justice. It’s hers to tell and though I’ve heard it many a time, I can’t help but hurt myself laughing every time!
My Grandfather came over in 1910 and always told me about his journey.
Almost 5 years ago I was able to visit NYC and seeing the Statue of Liberty and spending hours at Ellis Island was awesome. I even found a postcard of the ship Grandpa came over on.
TEMy great-grandfather came over first week of April, 1912. It’s eerie to think that had he left a week later from Europe, one of his options would have been to sail on Titanic. You can look up records on EllisIsland.org, which is wonderful for us amatuer genealogists (my mom calls it “geology”, and I always ask her if she wants me to research the family tree or the family stones. 🙂 )
I visited the SOL and EI last year. Went up into the Statue, couldn’t believe the security I had to pass through to do it. I liked my time at EI too, except I think every school in NYC decided to take a field trip there that day and it was soooooo crowded.
Four of my great grandparents came over from Slovakia (listed on manifests as Hungary) between 1905-7. It was very moving to walk in there shoes at Ellis Island. Statue of Liberty is of course spectacular.
Made a recent trip to the St. Louis Arch, and that is worth the trip — the ride up is … interesting…and the museum has lots of Louis and Clark stuff.
@mikeb wrote:
Four of my great grandparents came over from Slovakia (listed on manifests as Hungary) between 1905-7. It was very moving to walk in there shoes at Ellis Island. Statue of Liberty is of course spectacular.
Made a recent trip to the St. Louis Arch, and that is worth the trip — the ride up is … interesting…and the museum has lots of Louis and Clark stuff.
Thanks good friend for mentioning the St. Louis Arch… Been there.. Done that.
I was there in St. Louis with my deceased wife for a “Barbershop Harmony Convention”. Had lunch at the base … and watched the “Air Force” fly planes thru the ARCH. A Spectacular Event. Thanks for reminding me of the good times. Oh yes, I sing too but, that’s another “historic memory”. If I sang now the Arch would probably come tumbling down.. 😆 … 😆 … 🙄
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