Explore the journey to America - both its historical foundations and the personal stories that have shaped our nation. In the morning, we'll reflect on national identity, hope, and displacement with visits to Liberty & Ellis Islands. In the afternoon, we'll shift our focus to life in the city itself, examining resilience, community, and adaptation at the Tenement Museum.

8:45 AM - Depart Campus

10:00 AM - Ride the ferry to Liberty Island

10:30 - 11:30 AM - Explore Liberty Island and Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum

11:30 - 12:00 PM - Ride the ferry to Ellis Island

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Take a self-guided tour of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration & visit the American Family History Center to discover your connections to Ellis Island

1:00 - 1:30 PM - Ride the ferry back to Battery Park

1:30 PM - Depart Battery Park for Essex Market

2:00 - 3:30 PM - Enjoy lunch at Essex Market

4:00 - 5:00 PM - Guided tour of the Tenement Museum

6:00 PM - Return to campus

Begin the day by visiting two of the most powerful landmarks in the American story. Take the ferry from Battery Park. At Liberty Island, reflect on the ideals of freedom and opportunity embodied by the Statue of Liberty. Then, explore Ellis Island to trace the journeys of those who arrived seeking new beginnings—examining the hopes, challenges, and identities that helped shape the nation. 

Shift from national symbols to everyday lives in New York City’s immigrant neighborhoods. Enjoy lunch and explore the vibrant community hub of Essex Market. Then dive into real-life stories of adaptation, struggle, and strength during a guided tour of the Tenement Museum, where the American Dream comes into sharper focus through the lens of lived experience.