Ellis Island Museum Reopens After Sandy’s Floods

The island that ushered millions of immigrants into the United States is receiving visitors for the first time since Superstorm Sandy.

The halls and buildings of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum reopened to the public Monday, almost exactly a year after the storm. Sandy swamped boilers and electrical systems and left the 27.5-acre island without power for months.

Visitors stepping off the first boat included Cathy Scheer, of Riverside, Calif.

Sheer says she's in awe. She started a business trip early so she could visit Ellis Island and the nearby Statue of Liberty.

More than 1 million photographs and other Ellis Island artifacts remain in storage while buildings are fixed and upgraded.

Liberty Island reopened on July 4th. It was closed again during the partial federal government shutdown.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)