For 125 years, Ellis Island has been a historical landmark and symbol of hope for the many families that immigrated to America. And now, The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation will embark on a $100 million revitalization project to bring the 34-year-old museum into the 21st century.
The integrity of the historic landmark will of course be preserved, as the project will work to reinvent 100,000+ square feet of exhibits and expand the Records Discovery Center experience to help millions more people discover their distant relatives. In fact, the museum will more than double its current database to 154 million arrival records!
“We are a nation of immigrants, and Ellis Island is the symbol of that history. Our project will ensure that the National Museum of Immigration will welcome, educate, and inspire visitors for decades to come,” said Jesse Brackenbury, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “As with all Foundation projects, it is through the generosity of donors across America – not government funding – that this transformative reimagination of one of the nation’s most beloved and popular museums will succeed.”
By 2026, the museum’s two million annual visitors will be privy to necessary building and systems upgrades, enhanced accessibility, and additional interactive experiences.
Moreover, the museum will host a new Temporary Exhibits Gallery, self-guided tours (available in 12 languages), Flexible Program Space, ~100 new media pieces and a A Timeline of Immigration. Plus, to honor National Immigrant Heritage Month this June, The American Immigrant Wall of Honor will be expanded to complete the first phase of renovations.
“Ellis Island was the gateway to the American Dream for millions of immigrants in search of a better life in the United States for themselves and their descendants,” said John Piltzecker, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island superintendent. “The National Park Service is grateful to our partners at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation for supporting the restoration of this iconic building and helping to share the countless stories of hope and triumph associated with it. We look forward to working collaboratively to ensure that this site, so crucial to American history, is properly preserved and enhanced.”
Learn more about the massive renovation here.