Ellis Island Hospital

Ellis Island Hospital is a former medical facility on the south side of the island in New York Harbor, consisting of several pavilions with wards, operating theaters, and a separate building for contagious diseases. The complex spans a series of connected brick structures that now stand mostly empty, their interiors showing the decay of the past decades.

The Marine Hospital Service opened this facility in 1902 to examine and treat the growing number of immigrants entering the United States through New York. The complex closed in 1951 as arrivals declined and health screenings moved to other locations.

The facility carried a name reflecting its role as a gateway health service, and its buildings still show the spatial separation between patients with infectious diseases and those with other conditions. Visitors walking through the south island today see abandoned wards and examination rooms where doctors and nurses received people from every corner of the world.

The Save Ellis Island Foundation runs guided tours through selected parts of the facility that last around 90 minutes and should be booked in advance. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as floors can be uneven and some areas are only accessible by stairs.

The grounds include a small autopsy pavilion that was originally built to examine deceased patients away from the main buildings. Some of the old instrument cabinets and medical fixtures from the opening era remain in their original locations.

Location: Jersey City

Inception: 1900

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Part of: Statue of Liberty National Monument

GPS coordinates: 40.69956,-74.03958

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26