Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal
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Overview
The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, also known as Communipaw Terminal and Jersey City Terminal, was the Central Railroad of New Jersey's waterfront passenger terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey. The terminal was built in 1889, replacing an earlier one that had been in use since 1864. It operated until April 30, 1967.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeAn extraordinary year-round monumental architectural masterpiece—this iconic 1889 Romanesque Revival rail terminal historically welcomed millions of European immigrants. Arriving between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM on a sunny morning is peerless; sharp shafts of morning daylight cut through the historic glass cupolas and vast iron ferry slips, illuminating the weathered brick brick textures flawlessly.
Getting TherePerched dramatically at the northernmost waterfront apex of Liberty State Park at 1 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City. Drive via the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 14B, and follow the main internal parkway straight east until the blacktop terminates into the expansive ferry parking zones (daily pay applied). Footsteps away from the Statue of Liberty cruise gangways.
Travel Tips
- The historic terminal hall acts as a non-climate-controlled ticketing concourse; individual heritage ticketing tracks and train sheds are frequently cordoned off for active structural engineering work.
- Climbing on historical rail beds or scaling skeletal iron train awnings is a federal infrastructure safety violation; the full yard is under 24/7 video surveillance by state park law enforcement.
- The interior masonry hall has very limited comfort facilities, causing massive queues during ferry embarkation sweeps; utilize the larger, uncrowded restrooms at the main park visitor center 300 meters south.
Reviews
Positive
- This 1889 railroad terminal beautifully blends French Renaissance style with brick industrial aesthetic, offering immense visual impact.
- Serving as the gateway for millions of historic immigrants, it preserves rare archival photos and timetables with profound cultural depth.
- Operates as a completely free public site meticulously kept empty and quiet by the NPS, beautifully clear of noisy commercial pollution.
- Seamlessly connects with Liberty State Park's waterfront boardwalk and sits adjacent to the primary Statue ferry queue, a prime historic hub.
Heads up
- The core historic train sheds and tracks suffer from severe past storm damages and remain fenced off, forcing visitors to view from afar.
- As a preserved hollow structure, it lacks central climate control, rendering it bitterly freezing in deep winter and sticky during mid-summer.
- Multi-language maps and restroom assets inside the main hall are highly limited; casual tourists without pre-read research may find it sparse.
- Despite proximity to ferries, it lacks prominent tall directional signposts, causing hurried Statue visitors to routinely walk past this treasure.