Upper Bay Islands – Statue of Liberty, Governors and Ellis Islands

The Upper Bay Islands are some of New York's most famous tourist sites. The Statue of Liberty, perhaps the greatest and most impressive of all American symbols, dominates the skyline south of downtown. The statue serves as the most brilliant and clear symbolic gateway of the American spirit. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous statues in the world and, as befits New York, it's of colossal size, standing almost a hundred meters tall against the downtown backdrop.

• Ellis Island, the neighboring man-made isle, is the place to learn and get to know the history of immigration to the USA. The island's famous terminal, which welcomed over 12 million immigrants from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, is now a particularly popular and busy museum
• Access to the islands is via a free ferry connecting Manhattan with Staten Island
• Governors Island, the third among the Upper Bay islands, is now a popular leisure and recreation spot for Manhattan residents

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Statue of Liberty

One of America's powerful symbols, the Statue of Liberty is a gift from France in honor of the United States' centennial celebrations. The statue was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel (who also designed France's iconic tower in Paris named after him). The man who initiated, conceived, and planned the statue was Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and he recruited Eiffel for the task. Since they couldn't manage to ship the statue in 1876, during the centennial celebrations, a model of the statue was presented.

The Torch of Liberty was placed for years in Madison Square before being assembled on the statue itself. The statue arrived in the US by ship in 1885 and was assembled over about a year. It was officially inaugurated on October 28th, 1886, and since then it has overlooked New York's Upper Bay. The statue stands about 92 meters tall and its imposing presence fits perfectly with the Manhattan skyline across.

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• The statue represents the Roman goddess of freedom – Libertas, wearing a Roman female toga with a crown of seven sharp spikes on her head. The spikes symbolize the sun, with each one representing one of the seven continents of the world.
• Libertas wears sandals and steps on chains, symbolizing liberation and freedom. Her left hand holds a tablet inscribed with the date of America's independence in Roman numerals, and her right hand famously raises the torch high.
• At the feet of Libertas, the words of Jewish poet Emma Lazarus' poem are inscribed, which she wrote in 1883. In the poem “The New Colossus,” America calls for her immigrants with the famous quote, “Give me your tired, your poor…”

In the past, it was possible to climb the statue's internal stairs to its top. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, visitors can only reach Liberty Island and view the statue from below. Sometimes the opportunity to climb the statue arises, so those interested should check with New York authorities.

Access to the statue is via the free Staten Island Ferry, which departs from the Whitehall Terminal in the eastern part of Battery Park.

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Ellis Island

When immigrants arrived in America, they entered Upper Bay by ship, passed by the Statue of Liberty, and docked at Ellis Island. If the Statue of Liberty was America's welcoming gesture to immigrants, Ellis Island was the place where they were technically admitted into the new world. The shipping terminal that operated at Ellis Island included a huge terminal where immigrants were processed.

After the ship docked, the immigrants entered the terminal where they awaited processing by American immigration authorities. The Ellis Island terminal began operating in 1892, and it is estimated that over 12 million people passed through it as immigrants entering America. The terminal operated until 1954, when U.S. immigration laws were tightened; with the development of aviation, most immigrants began arriving by flights.

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The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

The historic terminal is now the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island. The museum operates on three floors where displays related to the operation of the facility and immigration to the USA are exhibited. The museum tells the stories of immigrants who arrived in the USA and explores the populating of the new world with European immigration. There is also a large digital archive that allows searching the site's databases regarding the docking day and the immigration status of those who passed through the site.

The museum is situated on a ramp or a small artificial island connected to Staten Island by the Ellis Island Bridge. Access to the island from Manhattan is via the free Staten Island Ferry, which departs from the Whitehall Terminal in the eastern part of Battery Park. The ferry route also includes Liberty Island and continues on to Staten Island. The museum is considered one of the most popular in New York and is bustling with visitors throughout the day. It’s best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon when it's less crowded.

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Governors Island

Governors Island is the largest and most natural of the Upper Bay Islands. You can reach the island by taking the ferry from the Governors Island Ferry, close to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The island today is a recreational spot for the whole family and somewhat of a green oasis in southern Manhattan. Previously, the island was part of New York City's defense system. You can enter and stroll among the historic batteries of Fort Jay, which oversees the northern part of the island.

The island offers a variety of sports activities for children and families, like biking and recreational facilities. It's favored by New Yorkers as a place to relax and have fun. Governors Island is less touristy than its neighboring islands but is definitely a charming spot for those with some time in New York.

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