February 07, 2007
Park Service plans to cut up sunken Ellis Island ferry
 The National Park Service is seeking permission to cut up and haul off the sunken remians of the Ellis Island, the 160-foot-long ferry that transported immigrants to Manhattan from 1904 until the immigration center closed in 1954.
 Left at the now destroyed dock at the "new" ferry building, the ferry sunk during a storm in 1968 and has been rotting underwater ever since. Bits of it can only be seen at low tide during certain times of the year. Until recently, there was no sign at all marking its existence. But even so, toursists would have to walk off the beaten path beyond the regular Circle Line ferry boats to find the sunken ferry.
The New York Times said the NPS has asked the Army Corps of Engineers for permission to dispose of the ferry's remains in June.
The engine and propellers cold be saved; the ship’s wheel and nameplate are already on display in the Ellis Island museum, the Times reports.
 The sunken ferry isn't the only forgotten part of Ellis Island. The entire south side of the island remains closed to the public, sitting mostly in the same abandoned state since the 1950s. The non-profit group Save Ellis Island has been working to restore and eventually reopen those buildings to the public. They've been open only for a few hard-hat tours, inlcuding two attended by NewYorkology. (See the pictures here and here.) The first renovated portions will reopen this spring.
Earlier: Ellis Island adds ghostly photo exhibit of old hospital
Lowtide surprise: the sunken Ellis Island ferry
Ellis Island to open historic ferry building in winter
Exploring secret Ellis Island during Open House NY
Touring Gotham's archaeology with book in hand
February 7, 2007 03:40 PM in History
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