Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital

The abandoned Ellis Island Hospital complex—once the standard for United States medical care (and later transformed to the FBI headquarters when the island served as a detention center)—has been left to decay for nearly 60 years. Now, Untapped Cities is bringing you behind-the-scenes for a unique exploration of the abandoned facility; on this experience, you’ll visit the contagious disease wards, the autopsy rooms and have exclusive access to places usually closed to the public.

While Ellis Island has become one of New York City’s top tourist attractions, drawing over two million visitors per year, the 22-building South Side hospital complex is hidden in plain sight, just to the left of disembarking passengers headed towards the Great Hall. Looking at its desolate, skeletal frame now, it’s difficult to imagine its backstory as one of the largest public health undertakings in American history. Join us for our upcoming hard hat tour, guided by a Save Ellis Island docent, where we’ll uncover its many, buried secrets.

Tour Highlights:

• Explore the over 100-year-old contagious disease hospital, which has been abandoned since 1954
• See an exhibition by the world-renowned artist JR, who has placed life-sized historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants on interior walls of the hospital buildings
• Visit the Laundry Building, where 3000+ pieces of laundry were washed and sanitized daily
• Discover the kitchen, autopsy room and other usually off-limits places
• Get special access inside the original morgue and long abandoned FBI offices

What to know: You will receive your ferry ticket by email in the week leading to the tour date you selected, and will need to print this ferry ticket in order to access the Statue Cruises boat which will take you to Ellis Island. It takes two hours to get to Ellis Island from Castle Clinton, Manhattan. If your tour starts at 2pm on Ellis Island you will need to arrive at Castle Clinton, Manhattan no later than 12pm in order to get in line, go through the airport style security, and board the Statue Cruises boats to Ellis Island. The boat ride itself takes 40 minutes. The boat will first stop on  Liberty Island, stay on the boat and wait until its second stop which will be Ellis Island. Departure from Jersey City is also available. Taking photos is encouraged however tripods, unipods and video recording are not allowed. Due to the nature of the buildings, all guests must stay with the tour guide at all times. The tour is inaccessible for people using wheelchairs or powered scooters, and kids must be 10+ years-old to join. No cancellation or refunds. Closed-toe-shoes are mandatory. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as the buildings are not climate controlled.