Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Picnic

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are the two most iconic symbols of New York City's diversity. As an immigrant, and a New Yorker, I want to share my love of New York with you, with a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, with a picnic break inspired by food brought to America by immigrants. The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of new comers to America, and has always been a symbol of freedom and democracy. I will explain where the statue originated, how it was built, some of the issues she faced before she was finally inaugurated on October 28, 1886. We will then travel to Ellis Island, where 12 million immigrants were processed and welcomed to America, looking for opportunities and a better life. We will celebrate America's diversity with a melting pot picnic: a picnic with foods brought to America by immigrants that have made our lives richer and more interesting. *Please let me know if there are any dietary restrictions or allergies before booking this tour.

I will meet you in Battery Park where we will take the ferry to Liberty Island. The boat ride is about 15 minutes. When we land, I will explain how Laboulaye conceived of the statue as we walk around the island. I will show you some hidden treasures, such as Philip Ratner's sculptures of the people who were instrumental in the realization of the project: Laboulaye, Bartholdi, Eiffel, Pulitzer, and Lazarus. I will take you to the museum, where you can go through the exhibit on your own, and see some of the original plaster casts of the statue, and get a sense of her size (she wears an 879 shoe!). I will set up a picnic for you with food brought to America by immigrants, before we travel to Ellis Island, and learn about the immigration process in the 19th c. and how laws have changed, and continue to evolve for immigrants. Once you are on Ellis Island, you can keep exploring the museum on your own, or we can return to New York City together.