3. Ellis Island

Ellis Island. Image courtesy Save Ellis Island.

The New York City-side of Ellis Island is the only natural part of the original island. The New Jersey-side contains all infill land, containing the abandoned and crumbling Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital. The border between the two has been contested since the early 1800s, coming to a final head in a Supreme Court case in 1998.

You can explore the abandoned Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital on a special behind-the-scenes hard hat tour!

Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital