Ellis Island Audio Guide – A Curated Route

The audio tour pairs spaces with stories. Use it as a framework, not a script: pause for views, switch to kid tracks when attention dips, and sit whenever a story deserves stillness.

Track Order That Flows (60–75 minutes)

1. Introduction — Baggage Room: arrival shocks and hopes.
2. Great Hall — waiting, voices, and decisions.
3. Medical Checks — chalk marks, glances, deeper exams.
4. Legal Interviews — questions, sponsors, and outcomes.
5. Detainees & Hospital — the South Side realities.
6. Departures — ferries, reunions, and first nights in America.

Family tip: Alternate adult and youth tracks; the tonal switch keeps kids engaged. Reward with a balcony view break.

Pacing & Placement

• Sit on the Great Hall balcony during longer narrations.
• Walk the perimeter while listening to “Through America’s Gate” for spatial context.
• Save 5 minutes at the end for a favorite clip replay.

Gear & Quiet

• Bring comfortable headphones; reduce outside noise without full isolation.
• If it’s busy, step to side galleries to hear clearly.
• Photograph while listening — narration pacing suits still photography.