Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum in New York City are likely to stay closed for the remainder of the year due to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.
According to USA Today, Ellis Island, which is a popular tourist stop for those visiting the Statue of Liberty, "will not likely be open in 2013" due to the damage sustained, the National Park Service said.
During the hurricane on October 29, Ellis and Liberty Island saw an eight foot storm surge. The flooding of the islands destroyed boilers and electrical systems. Fortunately the artifacts of the Ellis Island museum wasn't damaged but it was moved temporarily because museum officials could no longer control the environment of the museum to preserve the objects.
Ellis Island was an immigrant headquarters as millions of immigrants were processed there from 1892-1924. Visitors to the island will not be able to access the museum , but they can still catch a glimpse of the island. According to the NPS, visitors can catch a tour boat from Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey and head to Ellis Island where they'll go through a security check before heading to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty and undergoing a second screening.
The National Park Service recently announced that the Sandy-damaged Statue of Liberty on the nearby Liberty Island will reopen on July 4. The iconic landmark has been closed since Superstorm Sandy. One day before, the crown of the Statue of Liberty reopened to visitors after being closed for several years.
These reopening's are positive signs that New York is recovering after Hurricane Sandy. Coney Island and the Cyclone roller coaster and the Wonder Wheel reopened this week to start the regular season, showing that Sandy couldn't stop these iconic Brooklyn staples. However the nearby Nathan's Famous hot dogs, the freak show and the New York Aquarium remain closed. Staff say the aquarium may be open by May.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
