The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is undergoing a $100 million renovation, which will include new exhibits and accessibility upgrades.
The island was used to process more than 12 million immigrants, mainly from Europe from 1892 to 1954. About 40% of Americans can trace their ancestors back to their arrival at Ellis Island, according to the National Park Service. The museum has been operating since 1990.
Work is expected to be finished in 2026, according to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, the official park service philanthropic partner for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
The first project expected to be completed is an expansion of the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, which is projected to be finished by June. The wall displays the names of nearly 1 million immigrants across more than 770 panels, the foundation said.
Other projects include updated exhibits, such as a three-floor “Timeline of Immigration” and nearly 100 pieces of media to be used as shows or for interactive exhibits.
The Records Discovery Center will be expanded, adding exhibits, a small theater and green screen, 50% more public research stations and a bigger database. Currently, the Records Discovery Center has 65 million Port of New York arrival records. After the renovation, visitors will have access to 154 million arrival records from ports of entry nationwide.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and Ellis Island is the symbol of that history. Our project will ensure that the National Museum of Immigration will welcome, educate and inspire visitors for decades to come,” Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation President Jesse Brackenbury said in a statement.
The museum renovation is funded by donations, and the foundation is offering giveaways to people who give certain amounts of money.
For donations of $18.92 or more, a donor will become a steward of the museum and be entered into the digital “Stewards Manifest.” People who give $35 or more will receive a bronze steward’s medallion, while those who give $62 or more will receive a “Golden Door” medallion referencing the last line of Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” which is engraved on the Statue of Liberty.
Repairs to Ellis Island’s Main Immigration Building, including structural repairs to the exterior and work on the facade, windows, skylight and roof, will be funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund established by the Great American Outdoors Act. The foundation did not say how much the work will cost.