As part of the celebration surrounding National Public Lands Day and the official roll-out of Ken Burns' documentary on national parks, the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island will be open for evening tours on September 24 and 25th.

This marks the first time that the statue and Ellis Island will be open to the public for a special evening tour. As part of the festivities, attendees will experience a sneak preview of Mr. Burns’s documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, premiering on PBS on September 27th.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for people to experience these iconic monuments in a new setting,” said Dave Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. “We hope that these two special events will help to illustrate how unique our National Park system is.”

Ellis Island will be open on Thursday, September 24, and Liberty Island open on Friday, September 25. Both nights boarding will take place at Statue Cruises’ boarding locations in Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Battery Park in Manhattan at 6:00 PM. Vessels will return at 9:00 PM.

Tickets are $29 per individual and include a voucher for a meal on the island. Meals will be distributed at each islands’ dining facilities. Vegetarian options will be available. Tickets can be purchased at this site, or by calling 877-LADY TIX (877-523-9849).

The Great Hall on Ellis Island will be open for visitors who would like to explore the exhibits. On Liberty Island the Pedestal, Museum and Statue will not be open, but rangers will be stationed around the island providing interpretation and answering questions.

Statue Cruises is the concessionaire authorized by the National Park Service to transport the public to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. Over 3.5 million annual visitors from around the world visit these two icons of freedom and hope.