The ancestors of nearly half of all Americans came through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954, one of the largest waves of immigration in the world. For an in-depth, and utterly absorbing, look at the immigrant experience, check out the Ellis Island museum, with a rich array of exhibits, including memorable personal anecdotes brought to life via historical photographs and oral histories, where you can hear the voices of immigrants detailing their experiences. Don’t miss the touching American Immigrant Wall of Honor, which has more than 600,000 names inscribed. Names are continually being added to the wall, and if your ancestors were processed on Ellis Island, you can submit your name to be registered and inscribed on the wall. Take time, too, to explore the facade of the main building itself, beautifully restored in 1992 to its original grandeur.