The "Yankee," also known as "Machigonne," is a historic steel-hulled ferry. Described as unusually luxurious for a day-voyaging vessel, Yankee was built in 1907 by the Philadelphian shipbuilding company Neafie & Levy for the Casco Bay and Harpswell Line. Today, it's the last surviving Ellis Island ferry, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The ferry initially transported wealthy vacationers between locations like Portland, Maine, and the Calendar Islands, and later between Boston and Pine Island. During World War I, it was commissioned by the U.S. Navy, stripped of its luxury features, and used as an offshore patrol boat with cannons. After the war, the ferry was relocated to New York Harbor and began its service transporting immigrants to Ellis Island. The Yankee was also one of the first ferries to carry passengers to Liberty Island when it opened to the public.

In 1990, the by-now dilapidated Yankee was bought by a private citizen, Jim Gallagher, who began working on its restoration. In 2001, artists Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs (founders and designers of the home furnishing company MacKenzie-Child’s ltd) purchased the ferry and have transformed the boat into a livable work of art while also continuing its restoration. With the construction of the Hudson River Park, the ferry was displaced to Hoboken, New Jersey, then moved to Red Hook, Brooklyn, and is now Staten Island.

Ticketholders requiring accommodations should email info@ohny.org by October 13.

Alcohol and smoking are prohibited.

Children are welcome, accompanied by an adult. All persons attending, including children, must have a ticket.