Visit the Ellis Island Museum to see if any of your ancestors can be found on the "Wall of Honor," a partial list of the immigrants who entered the country through the island. Other exhibits include: Hearing Room, Peak Immigration Years, the Peopling of America, Restoring a Landmark, Silent Voices, Treasures from Home and Ellis Island Chronicles.
For a New York City history lesson, skip the text book and head straight to the source at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives. The archives were established in an effort to collect, preserve and make available primary information chronicling the social and political history of New York City. The archives serve researchers, journalists, students, exhibit planners and others. Some documents the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives has in its possession include papers of several mayors, the records of the New York City Council, the New York City Housing Authority, the piano maker Steinway & Sons and a Queens History Collection.
When the holidays roll around and it's a family priority to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television every year, you should really consider heading to NYC to see it in person. This world-famous event has been a major production since 1924 and there's nothing like seeing it from the sidelines.