This Fourth of July, a wall of scaffolding surrounds Ellis Island, one of America’s most significant national monuments, as it undergoes critical renovations.
From Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the scaffolding is visible, marking just one aspect of an extensive $117.7 million renovation initiative currently in progress on the historic island, which was once the entry point for 12 million immigrants between 1892 and 1954.
The primary renovation project, known as “Ellis Reimagined,” encompasses a $100 million overhaul of the interior museum located in the former main immigration building.
According to the National Park Service, this considerable renovation will modernize the exhibits and enhance various aspects of the 125-year-old structure.
In collaboration with the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, which played a pivotal role in the museum’s restoration and its reopening to the public in 1990, the National Park Service aims to raise funds for the Ellis Reimagined project.
CEO of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Jesse Brackenbury, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “Our project will ensure that the National Museum of Immigration will welcome, educate, and inspire visitors for decades to come.”
Alongside the interior renovations, a second project is focused on exterior improvements to the main immigration building.
This exterior work is the reason scaffolding has been in place since April 2024, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the National Park Service.
The exterior renovations are financed through a $17.7 million contract awarded under the federal Great American Outdoors Act, a program established in 2020 aimed at expediting overdue repairs for national parks and public lands.
Work for both projects commenced in November 2023, with expectations set for completion by the end of 2026.
This year’s Independence Day celebrations occur amidst increasingly divisive national conversations regarding immigration policies, with President Donald Trump and his supporters advocating for greater restrictions on immigration.
As seen from many perspectives, Ellis Island and the adjacent Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island stand as two of the country’s most prominent symbols representing immigration and its historical significance to the United States.
While the Statue of Liberty closed for significant renovations leading up to its centennial in 1986, Ellis Island has remained accessible during the ongoing renovation projects.
The island previously experienced closure for nearly a year following Hurricane Sandy’s flooding in 2012, which prompted a $77 million cleanup operation.
During the current renovations, visitors may find certain exhibits temporarily closed, with updates provided on the National Park Service’s website to keep the public informed.
As of Thursday, the exhibit titled “Journeys: The Peopling of America 1550-1890 (Coming to America)” on the first floor was closed, alongside partial closures on various second-floor exhibits.
On the third floor, both the “Silent Voices” and “Restoring a Landmark” exhibits are currently closed to the public.
Despite these disruptions, advocates for Ellis Island and the museum affirm that such temporary inconveniences are justified.
They believe the renovation will pave the way for a more modern and engaging experience for visitors in the 21st century, making the museum more relevant to contemporary audiences.
The first phase of the Ellis Reimagined initiative, which kicked off in the spring of 2024, involved expanding the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
This expansion aims to incorporate a broader narrative of immigration, including the names of more recent arrivals and not just those who entered through Ellis Island, who primarily hailed from Europe.
The modernization plans include contemporary enhancements such as immersive soundscapes, films, interactive touchscreens, and various displays throughout the museum, enhancing the visitor experience as outlined on the foundation’s website.
Additional upgrades will feature new lounge seating at the entrance, comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage, and improvements to electrical and other fundamental systems.
A family history center within the museum will gain extra exhibit space, a mini-theater, and a 50% increase in research stations available to the public, with a wider variety of records now covering arrivals at ports beyond just Ellis Island.
Neither the National Park Service nor the foundation provided recent updates on the progress made thus far in the renovation efforts.
To support Ellis Reimagined, the foundation has launched numerous fundraising initiatives.
For instance, donors contributing at least $18.92, symbolizing 1892—the inaugural year for immigrant arrivals—will be acknowledged online and in the baggage room on a digital stewards manifest, complete with their respective giving levels.
While specific visitation statistics for Ellis Island are not kept separately, reports indicate that Ellis and Liberty Islands welcomed 3.7 million visitors in 2024, which represented a slight decline of about 17,000 visitors compared to the previous year.
“We don’t have any indication that the projects have had an impact on visitation,” remarked a spokesperson from the National Park Service.
The museum has welcomed an impressive total of 50 million visitors since its opening in 1990, as highlighted by the foundation.
Efforts persist in New Jersey to facilitate pedestrian access to Ellis Island from Liberty State Park, either through the current bridge or a future replacement, yet the National Park Service has maintained its objections, citing security concerns and revenue implications linked to ferry services.
Currently, ferries provide the only means of public access with a private operator transporting visitors from two locations: Liberty State Park in New Jersey and Battery Park City in New York City.
“Caring people have put democracy in action to advocate for a free and green park behind Lady Liberty and Ellis Island.
The park is the best neighbor possible for these great national shrines to democracy,” expressed Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, whose late father, former Jersey City Councilman Morris Pesin, championed the establishment of Liberty State Park in 1976.
On Independence Day, ferries will be operating from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., facilitating visits to both Ellis Island and Liberty Island.
Stories by Rob Jennings.
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