Explore Ellis Island’s abandoned hospital on a guided hard-hat tour
4 hours
Round-trip ferry, hard hat tour
Step inside Ellis Island’s abandoned contagious disease hospital and learn how nurses cared for arriving immigrants. Explore restricted areas with a guide and see parts of JR’s “Unframed” exhibition along the way.
Closed-toe shoes are required, and you must stay with the guide. Not accessible for wheelchairs or powered scooters; minimum age is 10. All participants sign a waiver and wear a hard hat.
100% refund for cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the start of your tour. Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable starting a week prior to the date of the tour.
Wear closed-toe shoes; they are mandatory.
No. The tour is not accessible for people using wheelchairs or powered scooters, and walkers are not allowed.
Yes. Kids must be 10+ years old to join.
Information desk located on the ground floor of the Ellis Island Museum
Step onto the grounds of Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and you step into one of the most consequential chapters in American history. The restored Main Building rises above New York Harbor, its red-brick facade and copper-trimmed towers reflecting the ambitions of the era that built it. Inside, the soaring Registry Room still carries the weight of the more than twelve million people who passed through it. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration holds their stories in photographs, passenger manifests, and personal belongings that make the past feel immediate and human.
New York history comes alive on these tours, with guides like Richard, Ross, Justin, Laura, and Pete consistently earning praise for their depth of knowledge and engaging storytelling. From the Gilded Age mansions of the Upper East Side to the hidden details of Grand Central Terminal and the Woolworth Building, the tours cover fascinating corners of the city that most visitors never think to explore. Groups of mixed ages seem to enjoy these experiences equally, and several reviewers noted that the content never feels dumbed down or padded out. The guides are clearly passionate about their subjects and happy to field questions along the way. If you're looking for a tour that feels more like a conversation with a knowledgeable local than a scripted walk, this one delivers.
Richard was very well informed I enjoyed the tour
Trinidad Ramirez
July 5, 2026
Richard was very well informed I enjoyed the tour
Trinidad Ramirez
July 5, 2026