Johnny got a Junior Ranger badge at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and he wore it proudly for the rest of the day. All we had to do was ask a ranger.
We did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with a toddler on a Sunday morning in late October, the third day of our 3.5 days in New York City with a toddler. Johnny was 2.5. We took the ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island, then on to Ellis Island, and then back to Manhattan.
Here is what we did, what is worth your time, and what to know before you book.
Can You Visit the Statue of Liberty With a Toddler?
Yes. We did the ferry, both islands, and the pedestal with our 2.5-year-old. The only part that was off the table for us was the crown.
Crown visitors must be at least 42 inches tall, so Johnny could not go up. We did the pedestal. There is no height requirement for the pedestal, and children just need to stay with an adult.
How Does the Statue of Liberty Ferry Work?
Statue City Cruises is the official and only authorized ferry provider to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. We left from Castle Clinton in Battery Park, rode to Liberty Island, then to Ellis Island, and then back to Manhattan. Ferries also leave from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
Every ticket includes the round-trip ferry, access to both islands, the Statue of Liberty Museum, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and self-guided audio tours. Tickets start at $26 with fees and taxes included, and there is free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. We paid $52.60 for two Pedestal Reserve tickets for Colleen and me, and Johnny was free.
Where Should You Sit on the Statue of Liberty Ferry?
The top deck has the best view, but it fills up fast. We got to Battery Park early, and there was already a line. By the time we boarded, the top deck, two flights of stairs up, was completely full.
We grabbed a spot in the middle back of the boat, on the middle level, by a railing, and still had a good view. We did the same thing on the short ride from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island.
On the way back from Ellis Island, we went with the main level on purpose. Johnny was tired, so we just wanted to sit, let him sit on us, and relax for the 10-minute ride back.
What Do You Get With a Pedestal Ticket?
The Pedestal Reserve ticket gets you inside the monument, and it is the highest you can go with a little one. It also includes the Pedestal Observation Deck.
It is 215 stairs to the deck, and Statue City Cruises says elevators are available for pedestal access. One thing to plan for: strollers are not allowed inside the pedestal or the crown, and they do not fit in the monument lockers. There is stroller parking near the lockers.
The pedestal is also where the older museum is, and it was still there, still open, and still enjoyable.
What Is in the New Statue of Liberty Museum?
The new Statue of Liberty Museum was really nice, and it has the statue's original torch.
The torch was on the statue for nearly 100 years, from its dedication in 1886 until the 1984 restoration, when it was replaced. For years it sat in the small museum inside the pedestal, and in November 2018 it was moved about 470 feet to the new museum, which opened to the public on May 16, 2019. The National Park Service has the full story of the move.
How Do You Get a Junior Ranger Badge at the Statue of Liberty?
Ask a National Park Service ranger. We caught wind that if we went to a ranger, they would give Johnny a little Junior Ranger badge, and they did.
Johnny wore it proudly for the rest of the day. For older kids, the official Junior Ranger program has age-appropriate activities on Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Kids review their booklet with a ranger, take the Junior Ranger Oath, and get an official badge.
Can You Find Your Family's Records at Ellis Island?
Yes. Colleen has family who came through Ellis Island, and she really enjoyed this part of the visit. She looked up the records and found her family's actual arrival record, which you can print out.
The research happens at the American Family Immigration History Center on the first floor of the Ellis Island museum. Its database covers more than 51 million arrival records, along with original ship manifests. If you have family who came through Ellis Island, give yourself time for this.
How Long Does the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Take?
It took us a little under five hours from boat to boat. We were on the 9:04 a.m. ferry, spent just over two hours on Liberty Island doing the pedestal, the new museum, and the old museum, then spent about two hours on Ellis Island, including the records search. We were back at Battery Park at 1:41 p.m.
From there, it was a 17-minute ride to Danny & Coop's in the East Village for a late lunch of cheesesteaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a toddler go up the Statue of Liberty?
A toddler can go up to the pedestal, which has no height requirement. The crown requires visitors to be at least 42 inches tall.
Are strollers allowed at the Statue of Liberty?
Strollers are allowed on the ferries and on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but not inside the pedestal or the crown. Stroller parking is available near the monument lockers.
Where is the Statue of Liberty's original torch?
The original torch is in the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, which opened in 2019.
How do kids get a Junior Ranger badge at the Statue of Liberty?
Ask a National Park Service ranger. Our 2.5-year-old got a Junior Ranger badge just by asking, and older kids can complete the Junior Ranger booklet and take the oath.
Can you look up family records at Ellis Island?
Yes. The American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island lets you search more than 51 million arrival records, and you can print a copy of a family arrival record.
Where do you catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?
Statue City Cruises ferries leave from Castle Clinton in Battery Park in Manhattan and from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
Where is the best place to sit on the Statue of Liberty ferry?
The top deck has the best view, but it fills up fast. We grabbed a spot by a railing at the back of the middle level and still had a good view.
Final Thoughts
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island had something for each of us. Johnny got a Junior Ranger badge he wore all day, Colleen found her family's arrival record, and the new museum had the original torch.
