NEW YORK – To kick off the National Park Service and the National
Park Foundation’s celebration of the national parks on Sept. 26 –
National Public Lands Day – the Statue of Liberty National Monument and
Ellis Island will for the first time open to the public for a special
evening tour and program event on Sept. 24 and 25.
As part of the festivities, attendees will experience a sneak
preview of Ken Burns’ new documentary, “The National Parks: America’s
Best Idea,” which will premiere on PBS the following evening.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for people to experience these iconic
monuments in a new setting,” said Dave Luchsinger, superintendent of the
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. “We hope that
these two special events will help to illustrate how unique our National
Park system is.”
Ellis Island will be open on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Liberty Island
will be open on Friday, Sept. 25. On both nights boarding will take
place at Statue Cruises’ boarding locations in Liberty State Park in
Jersey City and Battery Park in Manhattan at 6 p.m. Vessels will return
at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $29 per individual and include a voucher for a meal on
the island. Meals will be distributed at each islands’ dining
facilities. Vegetarian options will be available.
Tickets can be purchased at statuecruises.com/night-tour.html or by calling 877-LADYTIX (877-523-9849).
The Great Hall on Ellis Island will be open for visitors who would
like to explore the exhibits. On Liberty Island, the pedestal, museum
and statue will not be open, but rangers will be stationed around the
island, providing interpretation and answering questions.
The special evening events on Ellis and Liberty Islands will kick
off a nationwide day of service and celebration on Sept. 26, National
Public Lands Day.
Together, the National Park Service and the National Park
Foundation are inviting the public across the country to help make
America’s Best Idea – the national parks – even better.
The national parks will welcome visitors and volunteers for this
special day, and as thanks, present a sneak preview of Ken Burns’ new
film, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” A full listing of park
events – updated daily – is online at nps.gov/september26.
Statue Cruises is the concessionaire authorized by the National
Park Service, Department of the Interior, to serve the public at the
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.
Over 3.5 million visitors from around the world visit these two
icons of freedom and hope annually. In addition to providing daily ferry
service, Statue Cruises also operates special event cruises, private
charters and the narrated Liberty Harbor Cruise – a 75-minute tour of
the New York Harbor. For more information, visit: Statue Cruises.
The National Park Foundation is an independent charitable
organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to strengthen the connection
between the American people and their national parks. As the official
national nonprofit partner of America’s National Parks, the foundation
raises private funds, makes strategic grants, creates innovative
partnerships and increases public awareness about the need and
opportunity for park
philanthropy. In its 2008 fiscal year, the National Park Foundation distributed grants and program support of $27.3 million.
To learn more, visit nationalparks.org.
From National Park Service
