The following article was produced in participation with the Partners in Preservation program, which will be awarding $3 million in grants to historic sites across New York City based on your votes – so go vote now!

Chances are, when you think of Ellis Island, you picture just one building…

The “Main Building,” a Beaux-Arts masterpiece built in 1900, through which millions of immigrants passed until its closure in 1954. Today, it houses the Immigration Museum, and if you’ve ever visited on a school field trip, or passed through on a vacation, this is where you spent your day.

One question: while you were there, did you happen to turn around…

…and notice the row of gorgeous Belgian-style buildings across the water? The ones that seem to be totally abandoned?

And as the ferry was departing, did you notice that these buildings seem to extend well into the center of the island?

Because Ellis Island is a lot more than just the Main Building everyone is familiar with. It was actually a huge complex, featuring a state of the art hospital pavilion on its south side complete with laboratories, a psychopathic ward, a power station, a laundry building, and more.

Today, the entire complex sits abandoned.

>>>Continue reading “Exploring Abandoned Ellis Island – And How It Can Be Saved”