On Saturday, CCIP J-1 interns (www.fusia.net) rode the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. One of the most iconic symbols in America, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886 and designated as a New York City Landmark in 1976. The copper statue stands at 151 feet tall in New York Harbor.
For the exchange visitors, it was an opportunity to see in person a monument that has been photographed countless times by millions of visitors each year. The group took plenty of their own photos while riding the ferry and as they stood beneath Lady Liberty.
Sophie from the City University of Hong Kong remarked, "I've seen pictures of the Statue of Liberty my whole life, so I was very excited to see it in person. I think I took a hundred photos."
After visiting the statue, the ferry continued to Ellis Island, the former immigrant arrival station where over 12 million new arrivals were processed from 1892 to 1954. The island, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now houses the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
"Learning what it was like to immigrate to America through Ellis Island was fascinating," said Marilyn from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "I really enjoy seeing all the photographs and artifacts from history."
