Urban Exploring: Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital

By Wander with Jill

April 2^nd, 2018

Many people go to Ellis Island to learn about the millions of immigrants who passed through its doors, but fewer have visited the Hospital, located on the south side of the island.

Ellis Island is made of three areas : the immigration station (which is where most people visit), the general hospital (off limits), and the infectious disease hospital (which I toured).

Save Ellis Island, is an organization rehabilitating the infirmary’s 29 buildings, and uses proceeds from the tours to restore the structures. They offer a behind-the-scenes hard hat tour of the eerie hospital complex which I was able to check out 2 weeks ago.

Urban Exploring: Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital

Images from left to right 1-3 : Views from Outside of the General Hospital which we are not allowed into because it is unsafe.

Image 4: View of the infectious disease hospital

Once inside the Infectious Disease Hospital we walked through the compound which was a labyrinth of nooks, crannies, halls, courtyards, sunrooms, recreation centers and bedrooms.

The Hospital Morgue area was extremely cold and eerie.

The Long hallway of the Hospital which lead to different sections.

Scattered throughout the buildings are 25 life-size photos installed by French Artist JR. The photos, which depict real immigrants from the Ellis Island archives, are placed throughout the complex.

Our tour guide Barbara was amazing, she gave us a lot of historical information about the hospital and I learned a bit more facts about Ellis Island that I wouldn't have known if I didn't do this tour. One major fun fact that stood out to me is that Ellis Island is technically in New Jersey not New York.

I Highly suggest to anyone who likes Urban Exploration or History to do the behind the scenes tour. For more info you can schedule a visit here: https://www.saveellisisland.org/education/tour-ellis-island/