Ellis Island, New York

During the second half of the 19th century, the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of immigration. Because it was often the first thing the more than nine million immigrants saw when they arrived in New York City. Ellis Island, which has been administered as a memorial by the National Park Service since 1965 together with the Statue of Liberty as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, was the US immigration authority for a long time. Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million people passed through the island in search of a better life in the United States.

But not all could make their dream come true, which earned the island its nickname Island of Tears. A two-minute questionnaire and a medical examination decided who was admitted to the US and who had started the trip for free. A process that often took several days. For around 350,000 people, the wait ended with deportation, 3000 died on Ellis Island and 350 children were born there. In addition, around 10 percent of travelers are said to have already died on the crossing, which is why the immigrant ships were also called coffin ships by the New Yorkers.

The Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island covers the history of immigration to the United States. It provides information about the entry formalities at that time and has an electronic archive with the names of the immigrants who checked in on the island and examples of possessions that the immigrants carried with them. If you want, you can take a look into the dormitories in which the immigrants spent their first nights in America, visit the “Wall of Honor” or go in search of traces of their ancestors in the library.

• Ask4beauty: Brief history and politics of state South Dakota, covering latest population and geographical information of South Dakota.

Visiting Ellis Island is free on the return trip from Liberty Island.

Free ride on the Staten Island Ferry

If you want to see the Statue of Liberty up close for free, you can take a trip on one of the currently nine double-ended ferries. The Staten Island Ferry docks on Whitehall Street at Battery Park in Manhattan and at the Saint George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and drives directly past the statue on its journey. Particularly beautiful photos are taken on the outward journey from a ferry with an open roof on the right in the direction of travel. On the way back you have the best opportunity at the bow to take souvenir photos of Miss Liberty.

Warning: you can only admire the Statue of Liberty here from the ferry. The ships do not dock on Liberty Island.

The Statue of Liberty in Art, Culture and the Media

People all over the world know the Statue of Liberty and can immediately assign it to the USA, even if there are always heated debates about the truthfulness of its symbolism in today’s world.

Over the years it has also been painted and caricatured by many artists and has been part of numerous films, such as B. “Independence Day” or “The Day after Tomorrow”. For the first time in the cinema she was seen in 1968 in “Planet of the Apes”.

It has graced numerous American postage stamps and coins and is often used to advertise consumer goods.

Replicas of the Statue of Liberty in France and the USA

In addition to the original in New York City, replicas of the Statue of Liberty can be seen in many other locations. In Paris, for example, there is a 1: 4 scale cast of the plaster model that Bartholdi made in preparation for the original lady, as well as two other smaller replicas. There are also replicas in other French sites, such as Colmar, the birthplace of the sculptor Fréderic-Auguste Bartholdi.

One of the oldest replicas in the United States is in front of the Brooklyn Museum. In Las Vegas, a half-size replica has stood in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino since 1997. In addition, the Boy Scouts of America donated around 200 replicas to various American states and cities between 1949 and 1952. About half of these 2.5 meter high statues are still preserved today.

GARDENS IN NEW YORK CITY

In addition to the atria of the high-rise complexes, gardens in particular offer relaxation from the hectic hustle and bustle in the streets of New York – haven of peace and relaxation.

The following are to be mentioned in particular:

• Shakespeare Garden: In the middle of Central Park (79th Ave.) between the Delacorte Theater and Belvedere Castle is this garden, which is said to contain 120 plants from the seeds of the poet’s garden.
• United Nations Garden: The United Nations Garden is not only worth visiting during the kish bloom. There are, for example, 1,400 rose bushes and an innumerable number of sculptures that come from different countries. The garden is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and is located on First Avenue / 45th Street.
• Conservatory Garden: New York City’s only formal garden is located 105th Street / 5th Ave. and is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until dark. There are more than 20,000 tulips, reflecting lakes, and playful fountains. A special feature is the Secret Garden, a reminiscence of the well-known children’s story.
  Free tours are available every Saturday at 11 a.m. in spring and summer.