Today was cold, windy, gloomy.... but the elements did not stop us from seeing our heritage.
And it didn't stop many others who were as excited to see these 2 historical places up close and personal.
THE STATUE CRUISES delivered us, first to the Lady herself! (Liberty Island)
You can look a million photos, but to see the Statue up close was chilling.
I left my big girl camera behind, on purpose.
All photos were taken with my iphone(and edited).
I knew that this day would be emotion packed.
I wanted to make sure I absorbed as much as I could.
A week later, I'm still at a loss for words.
"I live in the greatest country in the world"....... TK Sharpley💓
I was overwhelmed by her beauty.
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free......" (Emma Lazarus's poem is engraved on a bronze plaque inside the pedestal's lower level.
She wrote this to raise money for the construction of a pedestal for the statue.
Photo taken from google!
A gift from the French to the American people, the statue was the brainchild of sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi.
Did you know that the statue functioned as a lighthouse for 16 years?
Our good friends, Tony, Marilyn, and their daughter Alisa were part of our adventures.
In fact, without their expertise, we would have been LOST.
They knew where to go, what to see and do, and how to get there!
OK..... how is this for mushy?????
Back on the boat, and now headed to Ellis Island, the Statue Cruises docked in front of the restored museum.
Ellis Island~~
*No other place explains so well the "melting pot" that formed the character of our country.
*Ellis Island, served as the immigration depot from 1892 until 1954.
*Nearly 12 million people passed through its gates in the greatest wave of migration the world has ever known.
*The first immigrant to arrive was 15-yr old Annie Moore from Ireland. She is honored by 2 statues, one at Cobh Heritage Centre(her port of departure, and the other here at Ellis Island, her port of arrival. Very interesting article ----> Annie Moore (She gave birth to 10 children before dying of heart failure at age 50 in 1924).
Here are a few statues:
*The scariest part for newcomers to the island was the inspection. All immigrants had to pass a medical inspection to make sure they weren't sick. Then they were interviewed to determine if they could support themselves in America. They had to prove they had some money and could read. If people couldn't pass, they were sent home 😭😭😭. The island was nicknamed ISLAND OF TEARS because sometimes children were separated from their parents or one parent was sent home. For the most part, however, it was known as the Island of Hope
* Other nicknames include Gull Island, Oyster Island, Gibbet Island, as well as Island of Hope.
*In its own unique way, Ellis Island was like a city, with its own hospital.
For further reading click here to read more →→ Ellis Island History and Videos.
Here is the Great Hall where immigrants were once processed.
Check out these windows from the Registry Hall.
Looking out of the windows, you see the hospital directly across from the museum.
To the left of the hospital is this view.........
The museum is filled with stories, photos, artifacts, audio tours, self-guided exhibits. Plan to spend several hours at the museum!
Our excursion ended, catching almost the last boat back to NYC.
