Trace your ancestors’ path from Ireland to America with Forty Thieves Tours’ personalized journey. Step onto Ellis Island and uncover your family’s immigration story with expert guides and handcrafted keepsakes.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves walking and standing for several hours
Wildlife
History
Ellis Island served as the chief immigration station between 1892 and 1954, processing over 12 million immigrants and shaping America’s cultural fabric.
Conservation
Efforts to preserve Ellis Island emphasize historical integrity and environmental stewardship, maintaining the site as both a cultural landmark and protected waterfront area.
Forty Thieves Tours
Trace your ancestors’ path from Ireland to America with Forty Thieves Tours’ personalized journey. Step onto Ellis Island and uncover your family’s immigration story with expert guides and handcrafted keepsakes.
Forty Thieves Tours delivers immersive walking and bus tours in New York City that focus on Irish-American history and Prohibition-era stories. Founded to highlight overlooked urban narratives, Forty Thieves Tours offers a curated set of experiences ranging from neighborhood walks to family-focused immigration journeys. Guides combine archival research, local storytelling, and site-based interpretation to connect participants with landmarks, cultural contexts, and personal histories.
Popular offerings include the Manhattan's East Village and Midtown Tour, the Lower Manhattan Tour, Prohibition Walking Tour, Prohibition Bus Tour, and Across the Atlantic ancestral journeys. Several walking tours run approximately three hours, guiding guests through hidden speakeasies, historic meeting places, and immigrant neighborhoods. The Across the Atlantic experience provides personalized presentations and documentation in a handcrafted leather case and includes a visit to historic Ellis Island.
Forty Thieves Tours sells gift cards for flexible gifting. Tours are led by knowledgeable guides familiar with primary sources and neighborhood history, and the company emphasizes responsible engagement with heritage sites. Reservations, schedules, and specific accessibility details are available through the tour operator’s booking channels. Group bookings and private tours can be arranged within the constraints of the offered product lineup.
Forty Thieves Tours is appropriate for history enthusiasts, genealogists, and visitors seeking culturally rich experiences in New York City. Descriptions and trip summaries accurately reflect the focus and content of each advertised tour, making it straightforward for guests to choose the right experience. Booking information, pricing, and meeting points are published on Forty Thieves Tours' official scheduling pages online.
Operating Area
New York City
Neighborhood-focused itineraries
Tours Offered
6 tours
Walking, bus, and ancestral options
Typical Length
3 hours
Several walking tours are three hours
Gift Options
Gift Card
Flexible gifting for any tour
Reserve a spot on a walking tour, bus route, or ancestral experience to explore Irish-American heritage and Prohibition-era New York.
Bring weather-appropriate layers
New York’s weather can change quickly; dress in layers to stay comfortable throughout the day.
Wear comfortable walking shoes
Expect moderate walking on urban terrain, including ferry rides and Ellis Island pathways.
Carry a water bottle
Stay hydrated as the guided tour lasts around 3 hours with time outdoors.
Bring photo ID
Ferry access to Liberty and Ellis Islands requires valid identification for security checks.
Comfortable walking shoes
Supportive footwear is essential for navigating urban streets and ferry terminals.
Weatherproof jacket
A lightweight rain jacket keeps you dry during spring showers.
spring
Insulated coat
Stay warm during cooler fall temperatures on outdoor portions of the tour.
fall
Sun protection
Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to shield from intense summer sun.
summer