Gateway

The Gateway Region is aptly named as it is home to Ellis Island and the Liberty State Park which for over 100-years served as the gateway for millions of immigrants to this country and who made it what it is now. Here, quite naturally, is a diversity of cultures as many of the immigrants made their home here in the region. The Gateway Region offers much for the visitor to do and see. There are parks to enjoy, historic sites, many unique shopping locations, museums, art galleries, professional sports, thoroughbred horse racing, performing arts, fine dining and lodging. The welcome mat is out and it is large enough to cater to all who come. Things to See and Do Attractions Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge - Theme park for children of all ages. Over 20 displays of classic children's stories. Food available. Lady Cruises in New Jersey - Provides cruises of the water around the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island on an 85-foot, authentic paddlewheel riverboat. View NYC skyline. Liberty State Park in Jersey City - Over 1,100-acre park with picnic area, playgrounds, nature center, visitor center, concessions, and facing Liberty and Ellis Islands and the New York skyline. Hiking, biking trails, canoeing, boating and fishing. Spirit of New Jersey in Jersey City - Cruises around New York Harbor for views (see above). Statue of Liberty in upper New York Bay off from Jersey City - A gift from France in 1884 and the symbol of freedom. The "Lady" is 151-feet tall and standing on a 154-foot high base is the tallest of modern day statues. Stairs lead to windows at her crown for a breathtaking view. A museum in the base depicts the immigration era. Historic Sites Edison National Historic Site in West Orange - Contains the home of Thomas Edison and his laboratory and machine shop where many original inventions are displayed. Fort Lee Historic Park in Fort Lee - The site chosen by Gen. Washington to protect New York from the British. The 33-acre site has trails that provide panoramic views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge and the New York skyline. Historic New Bridge Landing Park in River Edge - Encompasses 17th- and 18th-century homes of historic note as the Cambell-Christie House (1774), The Demarest House (1794) and the Steuben House (1752). Mechants and Drovers Tavern in Rahway - Dates back to c.1795. The 4-story, 25-room structure first served as a stagecoach stop on the New York - Philadelphia route. Period furnishings and costumed personnel now provide a flavor of the past. The Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus - This National Historic Landmark, built in 1847, is a 14-room Gothic Revival house featuring exhibits, lectures, 18th-century furnishings. Museum and shop. The New Jersey Historical Society in Newark - Displays historical collections of land grants, prints, and decorative art. Research library and gift shop. Museums Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey in Teterboro - Consolidates aircraft, aviation artifacts and equipment, and photographs in reflecting New Jersey's long, active aeronautical history. Immigration Museum at Ellis Island - Where the "huddled masses" in bewildered, anxious confusion entered the land of liberty. Walk the Immigration Hall and view the 400,000 immigrant names on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Maybe you'll see a fore-parent's name. Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick - Features a large collection of international and American art work, sculptures,original children's books' illustrations, stained glass items. Liberty Hall Museum in Union - Exhibits the state's and country's history from the mid 18th-century to present times. Each of the 50 plus rooms reflects a generation's input. New Jersey's Children's Museum in Paramus - Provides a learning experience for toddlers and preschoolers. 30 rooms of interactive activities to keep them interested and busy. Patterson Museum in Patterson - Portrays through some 200,000 photos and other artifacts Paterson's role as the first planned industrial city in America. The first successful Colt repeating revolver was produced here, as were the first two submarines who's hulls are exhibited. The Newark Museum in Newark - A four-building complex featuring American, Asian, Native American and African objects and articles, planetarium, firefighting museum, and sculpture garden. Thomas A. Edison Memorial Tower & Museum in Edison - Where the light bulb was invented. Collection of Edison memorabilia exhibited. Science & Nature Related Liberty Science Center in Jersey City - Displays hundreds of interactive exhibits by theme on three floors (Invention, Health and Environment). Great for families and school kids.

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