Ellis Island
National Museum of Immigration
How do you design a visitor experience to be usable by all?
RAA has been commissioned by the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation to design a renovated museum experience at the site of America’s iconic former immigration station. This project builds on the museum’s foundational exhibits, many of which date to its opening as a museum in 1990, and its historic architecture. The team brought Dot Crew on board in June 2024 as inclusive design stewards, working across all 100+ digital exhibits to shape a visitor experience design that is truly inclusive, and accessible for all visitors.
About this experience
Reshaped, reimagined.
The expanded visitor journey will utilise all three floors of the museum while integrating newly opened portions of the former Kitchen and Laundry Building, previously unseen by the visiting public.
New exhibits will feature a cross-section of a 19th-century immigrant ship, a historical recreation of a Hester Street pushcart, and a large-scale architectural media frieze that evokes the excitement and energy of arriving at the Port of New York during the Ellis Island Era.
Where to see this exhibition:
Visit Ellis Island to plan your visit to this famous New York attraction.
Exhibition opened:
March 2026, staggered opening into 2027.
Project details:
Developed for Ralph Appelbaum Associates and project partners.
Media credits: © 2026 RAA, Dot Crew Digital Ltd.