Limited Run Tour! "Unframed" JR Tour of the Abandoned Hospital on Ellis Island

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In honor of the 10th anniversary of the installation of Unframed by JR, Untapped New York is thrilled to announce a limited run of special edition hard hat tours at the abandoned hospital complex on Ellis Island! For eight dates only, this special tour led by Save Ellis Island educators will present the history of Ellis Island and the abandoned immigrant hospital through the lens of JR’s site-specific art installation.

Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour — Photo by KPSTATZ.COM

Walking the hallways of an abandoned hospital would give anyone shivers. But what if apparitions from the past unexpectedly appeared on windows, through doorways, and on staircases? Scattered within the South Side hospital complex on Ellis Island, Unframed is an installation by world-renowned Parisian street artist JR. The installation is made of historical photographs from the Ellis Island archives that have been enlarged and pasted onto the walls, doors, windows, and furniture throughout the hospital complex. On this tour, guests will gain access to spaces not even shown on our Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour, and view all existing pieces of JR’s work.

Unframed JR Tour of Ellis Island’s Abandoned Hospital

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This limited-run tour, with available dates from October through December, provides a rare opportunity to see a fading masterpiece. JR’s wheat-pasted photographs were not meant to be permanent. There were originally 26 images pasted throughout the hospital, but due to the ever-changing environment, not all of these captivating works remain. We are fortunate to have access to over a dozen images. Don’t miss this opportunity to view them firsthand!

Your 90-minute immersive journey will include:

The heartwarming story of the “babushka grandmother” arriving at Ellis Island
Witnessing young girls undergoing treatment for Favus, a fungal scalp infection
A poignant encounter with the somber faces of those navigating immigration
A glimpse into the historic operating room, populated by doctors and nurses from a bygone era

Imagine the hopes and anxieties of immigrants as they faced medical examinations. See the dedicated doctors and nurses who provided care. Witness the resilience of patients battling illness and the somber realities of the immigration process as you explore the site.

WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY ABOUT THIS TOUR:

“This tour was amazing…It was like having a birds-eye view of some of our ancestors coming to the US through the Ellis Island and hospital portal. The time flew….and we didn’t want it to end! JR’s images were vivid and sometimes haunting! I’ll never forget this! Jim the guide was exceptional…He knew his history, and his JR!” – Maureen M., Trip Advisor

“Unframed Ellis Island is an amazing opportunity to travel beyond the public access areas of Ellis Island and experience Islands 2 and 3 through the art of JR. Led by historians from Save Ellis Island you will take a hardhat tour like no other – see areas the public is never allowed to see – and experience the installations by famed artist JR who uses existing images from the archives of the immigrant experience to bring the walls to life. This is a bespoke tour of very small groups – our guide was extraordinary in his knowledge of the buildings, the history, the photos – this truly is an experience not to be missed. It may seem expensive but all proceeds go towards the Save Ellis Island foundation – more important than ever that we protect our history of the immigrant experience. GO!” – Mia P., Trip Advisor

Unframed JR Tour of Ellis Island’s Abandoned Hospital

BOOK NOW