Ellis Island

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Have you been?

I had the great good fortune to have to take a bunch of people there just this week.

One of the things I find most inspiring about it is, unlike most museums, at Ellis Island you actually walk where the immigrants walked, you can sit on the benches they sat on, you can almost hear those mispronounced names shouted and the 21 different languages of the people being spoken. The babies crying, the family whispers, the excitement and disappointment. You can get a copy of the ship's manifest with your relatives names listed. There's a great movie, too, narrated by Gene Hackman, also included in the price. And the views of Lower Manhattan are priceless.

Hurricane Sandy took quite a toll on Ellis and it isn't fully recovered, but there is more than enough to keep you interested and entertained for many hours. Audio tours are included in the price of your ticket.

Fantastic fun. And its just sitting out there in the harbor waiting for you to ride the ferry out.

A mini vacation.

The largest human migration in history.

What are you waiting for? It's right in your own back yard. And the weather is perfect.

Comments

Fred Klein

I knew a man named Fred Smithline. I asked him the derivation of his surname. He said my grand parents couldn't speak English and wandered on to the Smith line at Ellis Island.
Fred Klein

Cayce, it is a true story and Joanne will attest. It does sound like Spizz :)

Submitted by VikramRajan on Tue, 05/05/2015 - 22:22

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Vik Rajan

I remember taking the tour in elementary school.
Riva Schwartz

took my son and school groups many times - my grandfather was interviewed and recorded, maybe you heard him speak on the interview loop they have!

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 07:50

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Erik Scheibe

Great blog, visited with my grandmother years ago before she passed away. She had come over from Germany and we found her name which was pretty cool. Largest human migration in history? Really? Not disputing, just never thought of it that way.

Submitted by SoniaSaleh on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 22:15

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Sonia Saleh

It's amazing and inspiring, to realize how many people came here and still do to create a better/new life. Sometimes we forget and take it all for granted. Haven't been since before 2000. Thanks for the reminder especially since my maternal grandparents are listed.

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