Save Ellis Island Resumes South Side Tours of Hospital Complex

Tours of the historic Hospital Complex on the South Side of Ellis Island have officially resumed. Save Ellis Island, the nonprofit organization charged with stabilizing and rehabilitating the 29 unrestored buildings on the Island’s South Side, announced that Hard Hat Tours are once again open to the public after temporarily closing for winter clean-up and minor rehabilitation work.

The full tour schedule consists of six tours per day, 7-days-per-week and can be viewed here: https://www.saveellisisland.org/tour/hard-hat-tours.html

“We are thrilled to welcome visitors back to the South Side of Ellis Island,” said Janis Calella, Save Ellis Island president and CEO. “History comes alive as guests have the opportunity to step back in time to learn about the immigration process and engage in the stories of the 1.2 million people who were treated here.”

During the 90-minute renowned Hard Hat Tours, visitors discover century-old buildings including the laundry facility, autopsy room, infectious disease ward, mortuary, kitchen and more, where anyone identified by medical inspectors as unhealthy upon arrival on Ellis Island was sent. In addition to Hard Hat Tours, Save Ellis Island offers photography tours that are open to both amateur and professional photographers.

Also accessible through the guided Hard Hat Tour is Unframed – Ellis Island, a one-of-a-kind installation by French street artist JR. His artistry captures the hospital buildings, its patients and staff members as they were in the early 1900’s through nearly two-dozen, carefully chosen archival photos taken throughout the complex 100 or so years ago. Arranged in a way that provides an immersive visual and sensory experience, the exhibition is overlaid onto the crumbling walls, original floors and broken windows of the buildings.

Tickets for Hard Hat Tours, offered to those 10 years of age or older, are available for purchase through the National Park Service’s ferry concession, Statue City Cruises.

Group tours, schools and corporate outings are also available. Further details are available at saveellisisland.org. Tickets are $55 and proceeds from the sales go toward continuing preservation and restoration of the complex.

About Save Ellis Island, Inc.

Save Ellis Island, Inc., a registered 501©3 organization, is the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior’s partner for the rehabilitation of the 29 unrestored buildings on Ellis Island. Save Ellis Island’s mission is to raise the funds to restore the deteriorated, unused portion of Ellis Island and return it to use for public education and enjoyment. Save Ellis Island is committed to preserving this national treasure dedicated to America’s immigrant story – the place where 12 million immigrants first stepped foot on American soil.